"We welcome the people and the colleagues of the Olympic Games with us and we welcome suggestions that are constructive advice from these people, all kinds of peoples. But the foreign press, you come here to pick, critically dig into details, but that doesn't mean we don't fulfil on our promises. "

Although he didn't specify which details we are supposed to be picking on, it's clear that the organisers are in a huff about:

:: the blow-up about internet access that hit the fan before the Games got underway;

:: the discovery that fake fireworks were used in the broadcast of the opening ceremony;

:: the fake singer Lin Miaoke, who lip synced to a pre-recorded rendition of the patriotic Chinese song Ode to the Motherland sung be Yang Peiyi.

"... the Chinese attempts to manipulate the messages that are conveyed around the world through the written press has backfired."

In the interest of documenting these faux pas, I've assembled a gallery of fake Olympic moments:

Photo taken by Aussie tourist Graeme Bray outside the entrance to the cycling time trial event on Tuesday. It shows army trucks busing in a rent-a-crowd to line the route because authorities had restricted access to the area because of security concerns.

The sand used for the beach volleyball venue comes from Hainan Island, over 2000km to the south of Beijing. The nearest beach to Beijing is about 150km away. Photo by Steve Christo

The People's Armed Police's APC which briefly appeared outside the Main Press Centre this week. Photo by Kent Blechynden

The Beijing skyline today. It's only this clear because half of Beijing's private cars are off the road and they've shut down all the construction sites.

More of the same:

.

Chinese gymnast He Kexin who's supposed to be aged 16, but there's been some suggestions that she's only 14-years-old.

The night of the opening ceremony was hot and still. Not a breath of wind about. Yet when the Chinese and Olympic flags hit the top of the flagpole, they immediately snapped out - suggesting there was some wind machine in use.

Photo: Mike Bowers. Fake because no actualy protests were allowed to take place here at Ritan Park one of the thress designated Olympic protest parks.

Update:

John Stewart nails it (with rude bits bleeped out):

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Recent comments

Have a bex and a lie down mate. You are goose if you believe anything the CIA says. They told us there were WMDs in Iraq. They lied about that as well.

There is only one group of people who have the right to determine Tibet's sovereignty and that is the Tibetans themselves. Not you, not me and certainly not the CIA.

^_^

August 26, 2008

05:01 PM

For the entire time leading up to & during the Olympics I have never been so deeply embarrassed by the childish attempts by the Australian media to portray negativity & petty controversy about anything Chinese. The childish bickering only shows one thing - Australians are now as bad as the Americans. Sadly, we have developed a pathetic need to feel like we’re the best in the world, and our media will censor and twist any story to deliver that ‘feel good’ propaganda to us.

It’s incredible that there are people out there who can’t accept the possibility, nor expect that each games ceremony will be better than the last. Does it all come down to the fact that Australians need to clutch onto the belief that our Olympics were the ‘best ever’? How sad & insecure we must be to feel the need to ruin another country’s proudest moment in order to give ourselves a pat on the back…how ‘un-Australian’ have we become? Imagine how angry we would have felt if in 2000, media reports claimed the Aborigines in our ceremony weren’t Aboriginal enough, urbanites pretended to be from the country, and the mowers had never mowed in their lives. Are we all choosing to forget that the opening ceremony is a show pleaser, to pathetically boost our bruised egos?

Beijing’s Olympic buildings are the most spectacular Olympic buildings built to date, and the opening ceremony was undeniably incredible. As an Australian viewer, I couldn’t help but feel proud for China that against all the bad publicity, the opening ceremony was so awe-inspiring. We know that no matter how perfect it was the media would create controversy during the Olympics. Bad news sells, & there are millions of insecure & unintelligent sorts who’ll listen.

Gold, Gold, Gold.....

August 26, 2008

03:23 PM

Lfdfde

So inavsion and opression of neighbouring countries is a new idea I stubbornly refuse to accept. There is nothing new in that idea. Tyranical regimes have been doing it for thousands of years. And I am suppoesed to be brain washed? At least I can freely express an opinion regardless of whether my government agrees with it. If you try that in China you wil find yourself holidaying at a re-education camp.

jimy327

Do you know how many of the 77 applications to protest in the three protest parks in Beijing have been approved? A big fat zero. And apparently the Chinese authorities have persuaded many applicants to withdraw their applications. The IOC has been embarrassed by the duplicitious deceit of the Chinese Government. What’s the official, er your view on that, comrade?

ABC

More absurdity. Tibet does not deserve freedom because it’s a populist cause! Is that just your view or the Chinese government’s as well? Your absurd comments are not doing the Chinese regime any favours. Maybe you should leave them to defend themselves.

smilypanda

August 26, 2008

10:57 AM

Gold Gold Gold
I read all the postings on this topic and many of yours, i just wonder how can you have such a stong view of Tibet and china when you know little about the two. You are a product of biasd western media and you own presumptuous. You view of china and tibet is igorant and shocking, pleae check your source before you entainment me again.

Further more did you notice most of postings from oz who have lived and worked in china are very much in favour of china.

smilypanda

August 26, 2008

10:43 AM

Many chinese are hoping the game is an opportunites to being china and western world closer, but many of us now experience disappointment for this lost opportunity.Western media should shoulder much of the blame.

Western media did nothing but nitpicking on china everywhere and anytime and they still deny it. If western media is not nitpicking then why they never look into so call "fakeness" in Sydney 2000 like they did to Beijing 2008. Only after "fake" beijing game become a huge new after been put on the whole front page, like the Age, then its revealed fakeness in Sydney 2000.

The famous Syney Symphony Orchestra faked Melbourne Symphony Orchestra got to be a bigger new in every way than one no-name little girl fake another one. On SMH website next to photo there is caption "Sydney chucked China symph synching", for god seek Sydney did it before china and why its become "china synph synching"

Some postings question why we chinese do not take it with a good humour, but we have been subject to this prejudice far to long too long to be able to laugh at it. I am glad to see more and more chinese (and our true oz friends) come forward and put ourside of view. We not always get published on this site, but we still try and hope.

Sports Fan

August 26, 2008

10:14 AM

"We should really be celebrating the fact that a country the size of Australia has six international orchestras.", Says Green on the miming by the Sydney Symphony Orchestra at the Sydney 2000 Opening ceremony.

Well, you have to admire the West's ability to SPIN everything in a positive light.

And the media? In the entire report, not once the word "fake" was used. The hypocrisy was exposed naked once again for everyone to see.

Gold, Gold, Gold.....

August 26, 2008

02:50 AM

ABC

To actually defend and justify the slaughter of Tiananmen Square is a disgrace and can only ensure that attrocities like this will be repeated. You are no better than the brutal regime that ordered the Chinese Miltary to massacre it’s own students. The world is poorer for the likes of you. You should be ashamed of your self.

Australia has faked free speech

August 25, 2008

06:09 PM

I'm absolutely disgusted with this Sydney Morning Herald blog by now:

It has completely fake freedome of speech- they deleted four post of mine (which were repeat posts), showing a CIA training video clearly stating that Tibet has been part of China. The video was produced in 1944, way before the alleged 1951 "invasion" by China. This newspaper has not just one but at least three fake reporters, who all pretent that everyone has a fair go in speaking out their mind, but consistently delete away any post that exposes the pro-Tibet independence argument. Fake neutrality!

It was in response to some posts that kept insisting that China has "invaded" Tibet in 1951, I tried to show the other side of the story, but this proves impossible to overcome the censorship of SMH.

It is evident to me that what these faked reporters and journalists really want at the end of the day is to stir up enough trouble, divide up China so that they can rule over the Chinese once again.

They just do not want to hear the truth.

For those of you interested in the truth, here is the de-classified 1944 CIA video clearly stating Tibet belongs to China:

Whatever you like to call it, humour, biase, racism . . people don't appreciate it Stephen.

By the way, The ceremonies are a "show". You dont go to a magic SHOW expecting everything to be REAL. SHOW's are meant to have "fakes" to enchance the effect of the show for the audience to appreciate. Please do more effective things with your talent.

ABC

August 25, 2008

10:56 AM

To Gold Gold Gold and to others chanting 'free Tibet'.

The Aboriginies would have had a desire for independence a long time ago but the British and Aussies have beaten and shot them into submission over the years so how can you lecture the Chinese on how to treat Tibetans?

Stop being hypocrites and give China more time to administer Western colonial style beatings on the Tibetans and eventually they will be content to be given tiny patches of land to preserve their culture on just like our Aboriginies here.

I actually do think China needs to treat it's citizens more kindly in a lot of areas but I dislike the unashamed hypocrisy of the the people on the "free Tibet!" bandwagon because
freeing Tibet "Is soo hot right now" with popular actors and musicians on board.

Also dislike the fact that the media are using criticism of China to make jokes offensive to Chinese PEOPLE, not just the Chinese GOVERNMENT. Alot of people are just using it as an excuse to
be racist.

What I want is for Australia to have an affirmative action movement for Asians just like they have in the US where people are so careful about saying anything remotely racially sensitive regarding African Americans.

Unfortunately this will only happen if we develope popular Asians in pop
culture and after watching Australian Idol last night it's not happening anytime soon. I guess that guy
from N.E.R.D is Asian though...

Lfdfde

August 25, 2008

08:47 AM

Jimy327:

Don’t even bother to debate with the likes of Gold X 3, who is either brainwashed by Dalai Lama and refuse to come out of his shell and accept the truth, or he is one of those Tibetans in exile himself. I tend to believe the latter. It is very evident from all his posts. Otherwise, anyone with a brain will come to understand the affairs more by reading the previous posts by people like you and cared to do a bit more research himself. But I cannot see that from his posts. He is just happy with his stubborn "belief" and refuse to accept any new ideas.

ABC

August 25, 2008

08:07 AM

To Gold Gold Gold,

"What did the Chinese student's do to provoke gunfire"?

When a police officer tells yells out "stop or I'll shoot" you either stop, or accept the consequences. The students at Kent State obeyed the National Guards orders to move back. The National Guard fired at them after they had withdrawn to more than 100 metres away.

In Tiananmen the students in their thousands repeatedly refused to obey commands from the army to disperse.
Now if a guy in a tank tells you to move out of the way, you definately should move out of the way. The students also spat, threw rocks and molotov cocktails at the soldiers.

Remember when Police in America shot that African American man because they thought the sandwich he was holding was a gun? Think what they would do if confronted by a large group of students spitting, throwing rocks, molotov cocktails and repeatedly refusing to obey their instructions.

smilypanda

August 25, 2008

12:30 AM

sneak feet, no need to aplogy, have a look this article. It is only revealing after 8 years in the woke of accusation of Beijing, but i think this is much worse:
The Sunday Age can reveal that the Sydney Symphony Orchestra mimed key parts of its performance at the opening of the Sydney Games in 2000.

And it gets better - it was, in fact, the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra whose brilliant playing was heard by millions around the world at the Sydney Olympic opening ceremony.

The MSO's superior sounds (pre-recorded just for the ceremony) were played as the orchestra went through the motions - the showbiz short cut of using "backing tapes", usually done to carry ageing or incompetent performers. Remember Milli Vanilli?

SH, grey skies must greet you every day. Everything you write concerning China you write with a grudge and chip on your shoulder. It is self evident that one of the greatest and most magnificent Olympics ever held has passed you by and you can only report as if through gritted teeth. Lighten up! China is changing faster than the world thinks and the whole world will regard her with wonder.

it took aussies 8 years to realise the scandal!At least chinese were honest about the miming.this week sunday age revealed"The sydney symphony orchestra mimed key parts of its performace at the sydney 2000""Nikki webster, human nature, julie anthony were all pre recorded"
and these people were gagged andhad to sign confidentiality agreed to no tell the truth.
Poor aussies,took 8 years to know the truth, or maybe just not interested in the truth??
stephen, i am waiting for a report on this issue from you.
shame.

"Nikki Webster's piece was recorded in July, almost three months before the ceremony.

At the same time, south of the border, the MSO, conducted by Paul Grabowsky, was recording much of the program. This included one of the centrepieces of the night, the Tin Symphony,"

jimy327

August 24, 2008

12:24 PM

snake.feet:

I hear what you are saying, about the fake stuff as part of the opening ceremony and about the political (and hence irrelevant) debate on this board. But I guess there are mischievous people out there who just had to make use of the Olympics to publicise the Tibetan issue. Those foreigners who tried to protest in Beijing (and not in the protest parks set up for those purposes) are a bunch of politically motivated hooligans who have got what they deserved: immediate deportation.

Barry:

Yes it is amusing. It's even more amusing to read the Olympic section on Yahoo Answers, where chest-beating americans defend their #1 position like it's their birth-right. They even argue that the American media has always ranked total medals, not gold medals. That's obviously false; just check previous American media medal tallies. The Americans expected to lose on the gold at the beginning, so they used the new ranking system to save some grace. But I have to say, yet again, it just presents them as a natoin of sore losers.

jimy327

August 24, 2008

12:13 PM

GoldX3:

Your last post appears to argue Tibetan independence on the ground of (1) independence prior to 1951 and hence unlawful occupation; (2) lack of identification by Tibetans as part of China.

As for (1), I've come across enough debates and research to know that it is a pointless question. Each side have their version of the history, and none of them are free from prejudice. However, the following are established truths: (1) Tibet and China always had a special relationship prior to 1951, although there is no western or modern day equivalent to that relationship; (2) Successive Chinese governments, from the Qing, to the Republic and now to People's Republic, have always asserted their sovereignty over Tibet, although actual occupation was broken for a few decades during the late 19th and early 20th century; (3) Right now the international community (i.e. all nation heads and the UN) recognises Tibet as a legitimate part of China, except the Brits, who would not admit it because they tried to claim it for themselves one point in time in 1900s. So you can flick through history books all you want, but I think those 3 historical and political realities are pretty persuasive.

As for your argument that Tibetans don't identify themselves as part of China, is your logic that any group of people that do not identify with the majority and wish to become independent have the right to do so? If that is, then you should condemn the Georgian gov't and praise the Russians right now, because that's exactly what's going on in Georgia. Your other fallacy is that you assume Tibetans in Tibet do wish for independence; have you done a survey? Or is that just your impression from the bitter exiles?

If China was in danger of disintegrating as a result of restoring the independence of a country it invaded in 1951 then what does that tell us about China? Are there more regions that want independence from China? Russia survived the disintegration of the USSR where many countries regained their independence. Economically Russia has not looked back. The standard of living and international acceptance has greatly increased.

I doubt that 1.3 billion Chinese prefer to live under the Communist Party. 70 million party members might be happy with status quo but not 1.3 billion. The students of Tiananmen Square showed the world that the Chinese people want change. The CCP brutally crushed it. They’re happy to keep things the way they are. Indeed the Chinese people are best qualified to determine what they want. Unfortunately the CCP will not allow them a choice.

Anthony

August 23, 2008

10:42 PM

I really disagree with comments about the fake threat, wind, beach and city. Seriously, what is wrong with having security personnel standing on guard outside venues? It's not like the guards want to be there. They are protecting the athletes, spectators and individuals there. If they had a choice, I'm sure they would rather be in an air conditioned office rather than in the humidity outside. Would you rather have your security standing outside on the guard and being proactive, or having them sit inside an office and wait till a bomb threat or emergency occurs, and then travel to the scene? I think the choice is obvious. No doubt you will have heard that there have been bomb threats made against the Beijing Olympics, so having safety as a priority is the natural step to take.
On a second note, installing a fan inside the flag pole is an ingenious thing to do. A flag drooping and slouching is merely a cloth, and not a symbol of anything. Having man made wind enhances the experience for all.
Yes, Beijing has no sand, and a natural beach is far away, but if events were held there, the toll on athletes traveling to and from the venue will come to further scrutiny, and if not, accommodation there will only drive up costs.
Yes, some cars have been stopped, and construction sites stopped, but how is that different to when cars were diverted away in Sydney? I am sure many readers would not be perplexed by a country trying hard to make their country look better to the outside public who have little knowledge of their customs and geography.
Seriously, write something with substance please. Readers and viewers are not stupid.

snake.feet

August 23, 2008

03:00 PM

To Logic:

Logic - your following is not logical:

"it DURING the opening ceremony, the digital stuff was pretty obvious."

We are genuine human being but not machine. You are easily saying these as you knew it afterwards.

I urge you, go to the dictionary.msn.com to check what it means for "fake" - falsely present something as genuine: to make or produce something and claim it is genuine when it is not.

The fake firework was sold to the WW media with the very expensive price tag as part of the package of the opening ceremony. How can you justify that if you were the buyer?

For your argument on the flag, I am sorry I guess you haven't actually read my post message, as I did not argue the flag issue which you are talking here in my message. I don't know why you bring this up actually, what's the problem by the way?

Logic

August 23, 2008

02:10 PM

I'm sorry, but this just annoys, me like its annoyed at least half the people who has posted here...

What is your point exactly? What does it matter if the fireworks were fake, I'm just surprised that you didn't notice it DURING the opening ceremony, the digital stuff was pretty obvious.

And just for your information I liked the fact that they had a wind machine for the flags. Shows some brains being used. I'm sorry if you have no appreciation for how flags are meant to look, but when you raise one its generally meant to fly instead of droop, but maybe that is just me.

And seriously can you do better?

snake.feet

August 23, 2008

12:57 PM

To XYZ:

OK if you had the problem in publishing your messages then this would need the SMH to explain according to the "T&C" of posting. But before the investigation outcome is available I think we should not speculate and judging people using the "in-completed" piece of information.

To ALL:

I've seen there were a lot of comments related to "Tibet", "human rights", "Tian-An-Men" or whatever other stuff which seem quite off the track of the original topic, thus making this track a strong politics smell. Why not rebase your arguments just pinpointing the topic here? Here is the place for genuine public to discuss based on the fact of fake firework & fake singing of the girl dressed in red skirt.

Here is NOT the place for politicians, who should get out of here and go to somewhere else to sell their points.

XYZ

August 23, 2008

12:20 PM

To snake.feet,

They tolerate alternative view to a certain extent. Beyond that limit, they do censor it.

XYZ

August 23, 2008

12:17 PM

To snake feet.

Why do they delete my post then? Why else do they delete them or not publish them? This is a fact. I do not make this up.

snake.feet

August 23, 2008

12:12 PM

To XYZ,

I agree with most of your points except the following:

"My posts have not been published because SMH does not like alternative views. However, it seems okay for them to criticise China's censorship."

I guess you haven't actually reviewed all the posts in the past.

If you had reviewed all the posts in the past carefully you shouldn't have said "SMH does not like alternative views".

Cheers

XYZ

August 23, 2008

11:50 AM

To Wei,

Your post is not the only one that did not get the chance to be published. I had at least 5 posts which have been posted for days and did not get published too. Some later ones have appeared. I have always been very meticulous to ensure the security code has been entered correctly.
There is no absolute free speech here. But I also do not think there should be. In US, there was a musician who tried to publish a racist song against the black named "Ni****". It did not get published too. You see, censorship is necessary at times. When it threatens the security of the nation, for example. You would not let Jihadist freely publish manual on how to make bomb would you?

My posts have not been published because SMH does not like alternative views. However, it seems okay for them to criticise China's censorship.

snake.feet

August 23, 2008

11:24 AM

I am a Chinese myself living in Australia.

First thing first no doubt the opening ceremony was the best in the Olympics history, ever.

HOWEVER ... we have shown the world the beautiful drawing of snake with feet on it.

Well, probably this may have unfortunately become part of the Chinese culture now - in China, there are fake cds, bags, clothes, CPUs whatever, you name it.

No one in China would care for these acts, but the whole western world, the international media, all "Gwai-lo", are sucked in.

These could become the mishap of the future culture for the nation, as the youth, the new generation, could be influenced by this and be following the act ... that worries me a bit.

I agree that in general the opening ceremony was the best in the history, however, the firework and the singing of the little girl were like "rat shit put in the grant meal", or like "putting feet on the drawing of snake" - you know what I am saying here.

Simply put, if things are not true, don't put and mix with the real ones, thus confused lots of genuine people in the other parts of the world, making something regrettable. Should we say these acts make us proud of? Certainly not.

Look, the western media really have their points here, don't get me wrong, I am not on any side of the politics in the world and I don't have the hatred to anyone or am not political motivated.

I think we have to calmly use our own view to see through these things, but not to

Gold, Gold, Gold.....

August 23, 2008

05:16 AM

Jimy

Tibet’s independence should be restored because it was invaded by China in 1951 and has been occupied since. The Tibetans do not see themselves as Chinese. They see themselves as Tibetans with their own culture, their own history and would like their own future.

Arguing that you couldn’t get a nicer oppressors than the Chinese is ridiculous. China like Russia is a bully occupying and harrassing smaller neigbours. Pick on some one your own size.

Barry

August 23, 2008

01:01 AM

It's funny how the All the American News ranked their medal position at 1 with only 31 gold, while China had 47 reanked at 2.

Can some tell me why? Are they been prejudice or they think they are still No.1.

notanaussie

August 22, 2008

07:18 PM

please do some research before posting such a negative piece on the chinese olympics to influence the clueless community. or should i say, you've really done a bad job at persuading the public to believe in what ever you say, or even i should say, it is sad how public believes what ever the media reports. please grow up, and stop being so naive.

american government sucks

August 22, 2008

05:59 PM

ABC

"And how exactly did the Tiananmen Square protesters provoke the Chinese Army to the point of slaughtering them?"

And how exactly did the iraqi people piss you americans off? By being killed thousands per day? because Ben knock your building off and caused 200 americans' death that you can send your army to iraq 200000 slaughter iraqi people?do you know how many people died in TIANANMEN? isn't that less than 1% of iraqi people? Slauters country has no right to blame the other country! like american civil war is your buisness, TIANANMEN is our buisness. why don't you take care of stop slautering iraqi people and let Chinese people take care of their own business?Why can't you stop acting like the one while you actually are not! If you really care so much about chinese"slaughter",WHY DON'T YOU SEND AN ARMY TO CHINA? WHY NOT? BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE OIL?

wei

August 22, 2008

05:51 PM

where is my last post?? someone delete it or not getting approval??? FAKE free speech

XYZ

August 22, 2008

05:19 PM

GoldX3,

I'm going to quote from M.A. Jones, an Aussie Teacher working in China(http://discussions.pbs.org/viewtopic.pbs?t=68073):

Let us look at the evidence. If Tibetans were so fiercely suppressed, and if Chinese leaders in Beijing were really out to Sinocize Tibet by increasing the ethnic ratio of Han to Tibetan, then why are all Tibetan families permitted to have up to three children, and are only fined small amounts of money if they exceed this number? Tibetan families in Tibet average 3.8 children, larger than Tibetan families in India. In fact, the population of Tibet in 1959 was only about 1.19 million. Today however, the population of Greater Tibet is 7.3 million, of which, according to the 2000 census, 6 million are ethnic Tibetans. If we consider the Tibet Autonomous Region only, then according to the census conducted in 2000, as referred to in Wikipedia, “there were 2,616,300 people in Tibet, with Tibetans totalling 2,411,100 or 92.2% of the current regional population. The census also revealed that the Tibetan's average lifespan has increased to 68 due to the improving standard of living and access to medical services.” In 1950 the average lifespan was only 35, and “infant mortality has dropped from 43% in 1950 to 0.661% in 2000.”

I personally have lots of respect for posters like Jones. He knows what he is talking about.

jimy

August 22, 2008

04:07 PM

Gold X 3:

You say that you care about the 1.3b chinese people, and your attack is only aimed at the governing regime. I beg to differ.

First, your attitude towards the Tibetan issue is completely opposite to the views of an overwhelming majority of that 1.3b chinese people. No Chinese, just like no Australia or American or whoever else for that matter, would want to see their country disintegrate.

Second, while the current Chinese regime is far from perfect, it is by far the best system China has ever had. Similarly, democracy in America is far from perfect, but it is the best America has ever had. Both systems are working, at least for the mean time. So why are you so eager to see a system that is obviously working to be replaced by something illusionary? Trying to implement something that illusionary is just like USSR and China implementing communism in the past: a social experiment with the potential for disastrous consequences. Step-at-a-time pragmatic change is the only solution.

Last, you are doing the 1.3b Chinese a disservice by rejecting a government that they are mostly (for now at least) happy with, despite some criticisms and its historical mess-ups. As an outsider living outside the country, with different experiences and values, what you perceive to be good for the Chinese is very unreliable. As someone else has already commented, you need to live in China, to have realised the practical realities there, to appreciate just what is good for the ordinary Chinese.

Gold, Gold, Gold.....

August 22, 2008

03:52 PM

ABC

And how exactly did the Tiananmen Square protesters provoke the Chinese Army to the point of slaughtering them? Standing in the way of their tanks? Their fate was sealed not by their own actions but by a cold, callous order by a brutal regime. And you defend it by drawing comparisons with other atrocities. By most people’s standards, that’s pathetic.

jimy

August 22, 2008

03:50 PM

Gold X 3:

I fail to follow your logic. What is your position towards Tibet anyway?

Attacking the governing regime in China or its human right record does not provide any argument for either Tibetan independence nor Tibetan autonomy. It does make a good case for political change in whole of China, but that's about it.

Pointing to current Tibetan sufferings is again only saying that the Chinese govt need to improve its treatment of Tibetans. However, as pointed out by others here, Tibetans in China already enjoy greater social welfare and cultural protection policies. They may still be poor and discriminated against to some extent, but it is non-systematic and the govt is trying to alleviate it. Calls for independence by outsiders such as yourself and certain pro-Tibetan groups in the west raise legitimate national security and sovereignty concerns for the Chinese govt. While its legitimate security measures may compound Tibetan sufferings, the ultimate culprits are those such as yourself.

I don't deny the current Chinese govt has much to be criticised. But none and I repeat, NONE of those criticisms provide a ground to make Tibet a special case. Any calls for Tibetan independence is a direct attack on China's territorial integrity and national sovereignty. No nation will stand that kind of attack. A prime example: when Russia attacked Georgia, Bush was the first to tell Russia to "respect Georgia's territorial sovereignty". It is hypocritical for anyone to support special treatment for Tibet while still respecting the national sovereignty of any other nations.

I have done enough research to know that it is very far from the truth to accuse the Chinese govenment of mistreating the Tibetans.

Why is Tibetan lanaguage still taugh in China but the elite Dalai priest class parents sending their children to English international schools?

If the CCP is mistreating Tibetan in favour of the Hans, why are Tibetan exempted from the one child policy? Also, why are minorities given extra 10 marks to enter Universities? What about the Tibetans being given special tax treatments? The list can go on and on.

If Dalai Lama is such a kind hearted soul, why were Tibetans Serfs kept as slaves, inhumanly taxed left right and centre, have hands and legs cut off when they try to run away, etc? Why did they support the communist rather than Dalai Lama when CIA's US-trained and sponsored rebellion took place?

I can go on and on. Majority of the Free Tibet protestors are foreigners who do not know Chinese history.

Dalai Lama and his elite clique wants power to enjoy the luxusious lifestyle and power at the expense of the Tibetan tribe.

I know there are issues of weath distribution in China. The Tibetan's feel that they are behind the Han people economically and some are falling prey to Dalai's manipulation. However, you and I know that Dalai is not going to be able to improve their standard of living and that they will be far worst off economically if Dalai is to become their dictator again.

Believe me, it is never a good idea for someone calling himself God to become your president.

I do not like to turn this into a political discussion but may be it is inevitable.

ABC

August 22, 2008

08:31 AM

To Gold Gold Gold,

The Aboriginies would have had a desire for independence a long time ago but the British and Aussies have beaten and shot them into submission over the years so that now they're happy just to get tiny patches of land back.

So stop being a hypocrite and give China a bit more time to administer some Western colonial style beatings and eventually the Tibetans will be content to be given tiny patches of land to preserve their culture on just like our Aboriginies here.

ABC

August 22, 2008

08:15 AM

To Gold Gold Gold,

So you're saying that the Chinese student protesters did not do anything to provoke the gunfire? In Kent State University the students the National Guard shot were more than 100 metres away and were not moving towards them, some were just walking to class. Did the Chinese students do anything to provoke the millitary into shooting? Did they threaten the soldiers in anyway?

Gold, Gold, Gold.....

August 22, 2008

05:12 AM

Allthingsinperspective

I think you will find that your Chinese friends in Sydanee would prefer you to see them as your Aussie friends. I know I would. Unless you are of Aboriginal descent you are no more Ozzie than they are. I doubt your racism is deliberate but it appears inherent. Administer yourself 1 uppercut.

Agree with everything else including the OTT list of alleged fakes. I am sure there is nothing that has not been done in previous Olympics. It’s all part of a pre-concieved media campaign to generate sensationalist interest in these Olympics. Unfortunately the Chinese organisers have only been too willing to oblige the western media.

Gold, Gold, Gold......

August 22, 2008

04:48 AM

Utterly amused

I was acknowledging factual history i.e. Tibetans suffered a level of oppression prior to losing independence and could again in time even if their independence is restored. Apologies if that is disturbing but welcome to the real world. An independent Tibet would not be perfect but a huge improvement on what they have now.

Aborigines are claiming and winning land rights, not independence. If you have any evidence to the contrary then share it with us. Tibetans are claiming unsuccesfully independence. Can’t you see the difference or was it a Chinese re-education camp you holidayed in? Maybe you could holiday in Tibet next time and then share with us your first hand accounts, or won’t you be allowed? I know I would love to but I don’t like my chances.

I think you will find the Tibetans are more concerned with preserving Tibetan culture in Tibet than in a display village in Yunnan or Beijing. Mate, what I find disturbing is that unlike the card carrying goons who populate this site, you have a choice about what you post yet you can’t see anything wrong with Tibet. Our pals stuck behind the bamboo curtain are not legally allowed to see it that way. In your case you just don’t want to. I find self interest like that sad but you probably find it logical.

Gold, Gold, Gold.....

August 22, 2008

04:06 AM

Dear Marty in Saudi

There is a big difference between Sovereignty and Land Rights. Can’t you see that or won’t you see it? Australia has already awarded land rights to Aborigines. That’s what Mabo was all about, handing land back to Aborigines. When will China award land rights to Tibetans rather than replace Tibets population with Han Chinese and destroy Tibetan culture?

Thanks for the invite to live in China but I might have to wait for a change in Government before I get the official nod. However that doesn’t disqualify me from commenting on Tibetan issues. How many Australian Aborigines have you lived with? It hasn’t stopped you commenting on Aboriginal Land Rights issues, nor should it. That’s one of the freedoms we enjoy in Oz. We can oppose our government. You can’t.

Don’t confuse my criticism of a brutal, oppresive regime for a hatred of China’s populace. There is nothing in my comments that support your ridiculous claim. Our conversation has demonstated that I care more for the 1.3 billion Chinese than the oppressive regime they live under. Shame you can’t be the same way even if you wanted.

Seth

August 21, 2008

07:27 PM

SMH calls this person a "reporter"? How did this Neanderthal survive to this age?

Hey, I've got news for you, your national flag features fake stars, a fake constellation, and you eat fake cow body parts and drink fake cow milk too. And your nearly blind eyes are seeing a fake world through that pair of beer bottle bottoms. Hahaha.

Marv

August 21, 2008

06:27 PM

What a loser of a blog. Stupid, disgusting and utterly pathetic. A point-by-point rebuttal of the list is a waste of everybody's time for this bonehead.

You racist democratic dogs by refusing to give us our land back. Let United Kingdom become one country again by taking back our old lands. let the people of our old lands be blessed by the might of the Great Britain.

David

August 21, 2008

04:30 PM

At least China's not a fake democracy like the West.

Western Mainstream Media = Propaganda Machine.

Fake news reporter?

August 21, 2008

04:11 PM

SH,

Recently I have gotten a distinct impression that you're on a mission to nitpick and ensure China is seen in a bad light by Australian.

So, even if there are positive things that you see in China, I'm sure you will not report it, or am I too harsh on you to come to that conclusion?

How do you expect me to believe anything that you say from now on? You are not an impartial reporter in my eye anymore.

ABC

August 21, 2008

02:04 PM

To Beijing Babe,

"Q must also have missed the news headlines - about Australia's Apology to the Aborigines."

Okay saying sorry is a good start. Now when will they give them their land back?

Still waiting for an answer

August 21, 2008

01:20 PM

To Jen Jen,

So you mean you just want China to allow Tibet freedom of religion? What do you think of this article which alleges that even the Dalai Lama himself violates freedom of religion?

There are many countless articles out there, just google Sovereign, Aborigine or MABO.

The Tibetan culture is proactively preserved by the PRC, as much as other minorities cultures of other ethic groups in China.

Have you ever bothered to befriend a minority Chinese ethnic groups, such as Korean, Hui, Khazaks? I have, they are all proudly Chinese but maintaining their cultural heritage, customs and beliefs.

So before talking too much about cultural genocide, you need to travel and live there amongst the minorities in China. But if your hatred to China is so inherent and intense, there is no words or advise than can do to change you.

em_the_pirate

August 21, 2008

11:43 AM

Chiang Lui......tsk tsk
do you forget that Mongolia once
identified China aspart of Mongolia?
how would you feel if Mongolia decided
they wanted that little Chinese piece of the old Mongolia back?
but of course! your great government
forgot to mention that in the properganda.
even if you are a blog troll, get your facts right.

Lewis

August 21, 2008

11:36 AM

be careful of your words, do not say any thing with out proper evidence, otherwise you will pay the price at some time !~~~

beijingbabe

August 21, 2008

11:15 AM

Are you sure you're not reeeeally 13 years old, Q?

Speaking of Q's. Question: was Tasmania imprisoned recently? I missed the news headlines.

Q must also have missed the news headlines - about Australia's Apology to the Aborigines.

Let's continue to move forward. Preferably towards that brilliant comment about the world having no borders at all.

ilovefood

August 21, 2008

09:53 AM

My response to "Chang Lui".

I'm a Chinese (by race that is, not nationality) and I find your post to be disturbing.

Either you are a very disillusioned person, or you are just a blog troll.

I believe that eventually there will only be one race in this world. Bad news for you it won't be Chinese thanks to these things called globalisation and inter-racial marriages.

My comment is off topic but I can’t help but commenting on Chang Lui’s post.

Chang Lui
August 19, 2008 09:31 PM You foolish Australians. these other countries were once chinese and belong to us again.
* Tibet is Chinese!
* Kyrgyzstan is Chinese!
* Korea is Chinese!
* Vietnam is Chinese!
* Mongolia is Chinese!
* Nepal is Chinese!
* East Russia is Chinese!
* The Paracel Islands are Chinese!
* The Spratly Islands are Chinese!
* Laos is Chinese!
* Thailand is Chinese!

China is broken up. we need to be one again.

You racist democratic dogs by refusing to give us our land back. Let Great Communist China become one country again by taking back our old lands. let the people of our old lands be blessed by the might of the Communist Party of China.

Utterly amused

August 21, 2008

08:49 AM

To Gold, Gold, Gold.....
You amuse me mate.

While I completely back you on your point about internationalism (no borders), I have to say your logic is somewhat disturbing. If Tibetans would prefer to be oppressed by one of their own rather than the Chinese, by the same logic then, the Chinese would preferred to be brainwashed by their own government rather than Western propaganda.

I just came back from holidays in the Yunnan province (also have Tibetan people living there). If you actually go and have a look yourself, you will find Tibetan culture has been preserved. So I don’t understand this argument about cultural genocide.

Also, you are saying that Tibet should be granted freedom as they are agitating for restoration of their independence. Then by the same logic, the Aborigines peole should be granted independence as well if they imitate the Tibetans tomorrow – meaning all of Australia goes back to the hands of Aborigines.

Stevo in HK

August 21, 2008

08:42 AM

This regime is probably the most excretable ever brought into existence. All these Pro PRC (most likely PSB or cyberwarfare trolls from the PLA 2nd artillery reg.) posts need to realise the word not only now has seen the ugly side of china, but realises that any promises made by the PRC are worth less then the ink printed with. All these empty vessels making the most noise about Free tasmania etc. Wake up Tasmania = quiet bucolic splendour that
has so few people and invasion might improve services. Tibet = ethnically different people subjugated and subjected to discriminatory laws, policies immigration and cultural as well as actual genocide. Tibet, Taiwan IS NOT CHINA!!!

Q

August 21, 2008

07:57 AM

FREE TASMANIA!!!
FREE ABORIGINAL!!!

AMERICAN MEDIA DOG.ALWAYS FOLLOW US MEDIA, PLS OPEN YOUR EYES AND SEE CLEARLY.
BTW, I AM 24 AND SOME WESTERNER THOUGHT I AM 13. WE LOVE TO BE YOUNG

Jie

August 21, 2008

07:54 AM

First, only some Fireworks are pre-recorded and used computer software, and this firework picture is not the one!

Second, the last picture about the wind. That's the way to show the flags, everyone knows that's the wind coming from the fan! Don't be silly!

You are enough! Want more, fake Yao Ming, fake Liu Xiang, keep going!

wei

August 21, 2008

07:34 AM

it is really shame that someone need to check my post before it showed on the site, even worse than CCP's media.

Shame

wei

August 21, 2008

07:25 AM

some one is talking about " free tibet"

why not free australia for aboriginal and free New Zealand for Maori FIRST.

Gold, Gold, Gold.....

August 21, 2008

05:25 AM

Shenyi of Wuhan, China

The Aboriginals were dispossesed much like the Indians throught the Americas and countless other Indigenous races. No they did not get a choice but unlike the Tibetans they are not agitating for restoration of their independence. The Tibetans are. Also everything you have said above has been acknowledged in the form of an apology from the Australian Government. Does the Chinese Government recognise Tibet’s claims for independence? Will the Chinese Government be offering an apology?

Even if previous Dali Lamas were tyrants the Tibetans would prefer to be oppressed by one of their own rather than the Chinese. At least they get to keep their culture that way.

I will be happy when there is no China, no Australia, no borders, nothing to die for. Imagine, it's easy if you try…..

Gold, Gold, Gold.....

August 21, 2008

04:53 AM

To Gold Gold Gold
As requeted. Let’s compare the Kent State University shootings to the Tiananmen Square Massacre. On 4 May 1970 4 students were shot dead and 9 wounded by National Guardsman at Kent State University, Kent, Ohio, USA. In response 8 million students striked closing hundreds of universities, coleges and high schools. There was a massive backlash through out the USA against those responsible for the shootings.

The Tiananmen Square massacre and it’s aftermath was very different. On 4 June 1989 thousands of peaceful students in Tiananmen Square were surrounded by Tanks and soldiers and without provocation slaughtered. Estimates of the dead range from 200-300 by the government to 2000-3000 by the Chinese Red Cross. The number of wounded would have been in the thousands. In the wake of the massacre thousands of students and supporters were arrested, foreign media expelled, suppressed reporting of the massacre and other protests in the Chinese Media, purged government sympathisers including General Secretary Zhao Zhiyang. The only backlash that the perpetrators of this atrocity felt was from the international community.

You tell me which one is the work of a totalitarian regime? Relative to Tiananmen Square, Kent State University was very minor. One was an appalingly mishandled demonstration, the other a bloddy and brutal crackdown by an oppressive regime. If you can’t see the difference then you are blind.

allthingsinperspective

August 20, 2008

11:21 PM

Honestly, the chinese government have a LOT to answer for (just as many other governments do), they are quite a few years behind on things such as freedom and human rights.. but its so not about the chinese PEOPLE. Even watching some news clips in China asking the Chinese what they thought about the situation in Tibet - they spoke rather strongly in favour of their government which may lead one to think they are kind of brutal too.. but the reality is probably closer to the fact that their own government clouds them with propaganda (as they try with the rest of the world). Living in Sydney ive met and befriended heaps of Chinese people.. i actually find them to be more open and warm than most 'aussies'. So, a distinction really does need to be made between people and government. In fact as an outsider who knows little id dare to say the chinese people are somewhat victim to their own government.

As for fake this, fake that... come on, youre pointing out fake wind for the flags and fake people in seats? I think thats PR mastery! Do i care if the wind was REALLY blowing that day or if they got 174 people to blow at the flags as hard as they could?

JenJen

August 20, 2008

07:10 PM

Re: # Still waiting for an answer

We're saying "Free Tibet"- not "give China back to Tibet". Get the technicalities right.
The Aboriginal people or any persons in Australia are free to believe and follow their own spirituality or religion.

Stephen_Is_Pathetic

August 20, 2008

05:47 PM

OMG, From this article all I sense is jealousy and fear. The more people like you bashes China, the better I fill about our achievement. Thank you for your compliment.

Media Checker

August 20, 2008

04:52 PM

Chang Lui,

Your post is as bad as SH's. Please do not post rubbish yourself. We're not here to glorify the Communists, thank you very much. Nor are we here to act stupidly with stupid nationalism.

mani

August 20, 2008

04:29 PM

I just want to say:" Ignorance is pitiful".

Media Checker

August 20, 2008

02:05 PM

Kevin Rudd has opened the heart of the Chinese people to the Aussies when he spoke perfect Mandarin in China, although nobody there agreed with him on his view re Tibet.

I hope SH has not done the just the opposite and closed the heart of the Chinese people to the Aussies by his stupid, ignorant, and offensive posts.

Media Checker

August 20, 2008

01:58 PM

SH has removed the slated eyes picture because he reaslises (I hope) that it is offensive to make fun of a person's physical attributes, whether it is a person's skin color, weight, handicap, or other attribute. Try calling your girl friend flat chested, and see if you get a tight slap or you could get away with "oh, you should be able to take a joke" lame excuse. If you call a Chinese ChingChong, WingWong, slant eyed, don't expect them to appreciate your humour. It is offensive, racist, and completely unacceptable in today's world. They're trying to open themselves up and be friends of the west. Your offensive comments do not help a bit in achieveing this.

Melanie

August 20, 2008

01:16 PM

The blogger said that because he/she is only focused on the black side of China.
Nothing is perfect.Please be open-minded and also see the bright side.
You guys thought the success that China has gained these days is because of luck and 'fake' behavious. You know success will never last in that way. Right? While you critisie on small spots, please also see the whole picture.

Australia = Loser

August 20, 2008

12:01 PM

Only losers will cook these fake news. Shame on you - Australia - Loser

smilypanda

August 20, 2008

11:45 AM

you are too generous SH, there are many more fake things in Beijing 2008 you did not mention, such as fake woman/maybe man perfomer as they all had make-ups on , rather than show their normally selves as in Sydney 2000.
Fake thing is endless like their fake 1000s year's ago's cloth, actions etc.

When i first saw fake sky photo i thought you mean chinese faked the photo only after read caption i reallised you mean they clean up the city to give a clear sky.

I just wonder what your family party would be like.

Shameonu

August 20, 2008

09:45 AM

Quote from HK "Bloody communists...", If people disagree with you, then they are named "Bloody communists", what will you do next? imprison them? Is Australia a freedom country?

The M

August 20, 2008

09:03 AM

LoL, I heard something like..

-EVERY THING FAKE In Whole CHINA!

-NOTHING is better than SYDNEY 2004!

-Stage Set and Audio Suppot just USELESS! Not belongs to your CHINESE!

Smart one already calm down and learn something form BeJing?Is it really a sham to study something?

I will honour someone who can correct my English grammar.By the way , "Lui" is neither a chinese word nor symbol.

Denmark

August 20, 2008

09:01 AM

I would have appreciated some fake crowds at the handball eight years ago. As it stood, what should have been one of the best events at those Olympics lacked the atmosphere it deserved. Shame on you, Australia.

JJ

August 20, 2008

08:22 AM

To "Chang Lui",
Watch your mouth mate! You are pretending to pro Chinese but indeed you are trying to raise conflict between Australian and Chinese. so as China and all its neigbhbor countries. You devil!!!

ABC

August 20, 2008

08:17 AM

LC Gillat,

It's because even though the Western media and public say they are outraged by the CHINESE GOVERNMENT, alot of the time the gags and criticisms have been directed at CHINESE PEOPLE rather than the CHINESE GOVERNMENT (eg. channel 7 olympic commentary, today tonight, Paul McDermott). CHINESE PEOPLE live all over the world and we are your neighbors, classmates and colleagues so using the actions of the CHINESE GOVERNMENT to criticise CHINESE PEOPLE and CHINESE CULTURE insults us all.

Shameonu

August 20, 2008

08:16 AM

Quote itsme44 "1. Animals skinned alive for fur..."

Mate, you make me laugh! Does this has any relation with Olympic Game? Auzzie eat Kangaroo meat and sell its skin, we still hosted the Sydney 2000. At least, Chinese doesn't want to eat Panda :-)

anon

August 20, 2008

08:16 AM

"

* itsme44
* August 19, 2008
* 05:24 PM

1. Animals skinned alive for fur
2. Dogs and cats bashed and tortured in animals markets where they are sold as food and often boiled alive.
3. Cats crammed into cages and put in a shed to die in an olympic 'clean up'.
4. Mass extinctions and poaching of wild and endangered animals worldwide to quench the greedy chinese market for parts.
5. Bears kept in crush cages for 30 years whilst bile is extracted from their stomachs
6. Tiger farms where tigers are kept in deplorable conditions, then killed for parts.

Need i go on?
"

You downer. How is that junk you just wrote related to the topic? Oh you must love animals according to your post. What about humans? Aboriginals killed and having their land taken over. Need i go on?

Di'LC Lumo

August 20, 2008

08:15 AM

To LC Gillatt,
certainly china also have similar blogs and you are feel to make aggessive comments, but unfortunately they are most, if not all, in Chinese which is hard to learn and understand. a lot of people in china (including me live in USA, London and Sydney in the last 20 years) are ignorance of the western culture but at least they try to learn and therefore they can make comments on these blogs with poor english like mine. it's not until the western world willing to do the same - appreciate others culture and language, the world would be more better because they don't need to count on the fake reports written by our poor quality journalists.

Shameonu

August 20, 2008

08:14 AM

Quote itsme44 "1. Animals skinned alive for fur..."

Mate, you make me laugh! Does this has any relation with Olympic Game? Auzzie eat Kangaroo meat and sell its skin, we still hosted the Sydney 2000. At least, Chinese doesn't want to eat Panda :-)

Shameonu

August 20, 2008

08:07 AM

Quote itsme44 "1. Animals skinned alive for fur..."

Mate, you make me laugh! Does this has any relation with Olympic Game? Auzzie eat Kangaroo meat and sell its skin, we still hosted the Sydney 2000. At least, Chinese doesn't want to eat Panda :-)

HK

August 20, 2008

07:41 AM

Bloody communists. You get more freedom to comment on this blog, ever with moderation, than you get in Beijing.

ABC

August 20, 2008

07:40 AM

LC Gillat,

Even though the Western media and public say they are outraged by the CHINESE GOVERNMENT, alot of the time the gags and criticisms have been directed at CHINESE PEOPLE (eg. channel 7 olympic commentary, today tonight, Paul McDermott). CHINESE PEOPLE live all over the world and we are your neighbors, classmates and colleagues so using the actions of the CHINESE GOVERNMENT to criticise CHINESE PEOPLE and CHINESE CULTURE insults us all.

"Whoa! After reading one complaining blog after another re the 'West', I had to actually check that I hadn't been swept onto a Chinese website! Tell me, is there a similar place on a Chinese website where I can express my opinions of China in the same aggressive way?"

kraken

August 20, 2008

06:54 AM

I notice you have'nt published my previous two blog comments. Given some of the unadulterated propaganda being peddled here I am disappointed. I have canceled my subscription to my Fairfax newspaper. Cheers!

L C Gillatt

August 19, 2008

11:11 PM

Whoa! After reading one complaining blog after another re the 'West', I had to actually check that I hadn't been swept onto a Chinese website! Tell me, is there a similar place on a Chinese website where I can express my opinions of China in the same aggressive way? And for anyone's information - I do know China and experienced it in both a social and professional way, and I have dual Nationality with Australia and the UK. Racism has never been a trait of mine - so please don't fall back on that lame excuse for me actually having the audacity (for that read 'freedom'!) to write this post! A lot of these posters are in fact proving that they are ignorant of the Western cultures, foibles!

Pax Sinica

August 19, 2008

09:57 PM

Australia's words ring hollow, as long as the iron, gas, and aluminium flows to China, and Chinese consumer goods flow the other direction.

Harden up and boycott trade, or is your credit card limit and home mortgage interest rate more important than freedom, human rights and democracy?

You foolish Australians. these other countries were once chinese and belong to us again.
* Tibet is Chinese!
* Kyrgyzstan is Chinese!
* Korea is Chinese!
* Vietnam is Chinese!
* Mongolia is Chinese!
* Nepal is Chinese!
* East Russia is Chinese!
* The Paracel Islands are Chinese!
* The Spratly Islands are Chinese!
* Laos is Chinese!
* Thailand is Chinese!

China is broken up. we need to be one again.

You racist democratic dogs by refusing to give us our land back. Let Great Communist China become one country again by taking back our old lands. let the people of our old lands be blessed by the might of the Communist Party of China.

R

August 19, 2008

09:19 PM

to Magstar

LOL.. TAS has 40 people (and they are all related)

But what if QLD or SA or NSW or WA or VIC wants to go independent?

I just don't like seeing a country split up, any country as a matter of fact.

Amused

August 19, 2008

08:13 PM

About FAKE ID

The funny thing is that they never raised it when these reports first came out. Now all of a sudden when these girls are winning the medals, they start the accusation. hmm...

Another funny thing is that I thought the China Daily and some other government websites mentioned above(state controlled media) were said to be propaganda machines. How come all of a sudden they become gospel? hmm...

The funniest thing is that if you cannot trust their official passports, what makes you trust the online websites, which are not immune to mistakes?

If you, like you said in your article "Sweet sixteen", do not make a judgment on the girl's age, why do you post a sticker on her forehead with the title " fake ID"?

Indeed, something fishy...

asian pride!!!

August 19, 2008

07:34 PM

ok seeing that all these photos are "fake" let me ask you something
who dosnt add in a blue sky when selling their house? havnt you seen any western singers lipsing before?
how are supposed to build state or the art stadium on a real beach? would australians go and get some real aboriginals from over 70 existing tribes?
if i fly a flag in the MCG do you think it would fly without a "fake" breeze?

when you start making fun of the Chinese maybe you should think clearly and take a good look at yourself its not like Australians dont do the same.

OH AND BY THE WAY DONT BAG THE GREAT WALL ITS BETTER THAN ANYTHING THAN ANYTHING THAT THE WESTERN CULTURE HAS EVER MADE.

itsme44

August 19, 2008

05:24 PM

1. Animals skinned alive for fur
2. Dogs and cats bashed and tortured in animals markets where they are sold as food and often boiled alive.
3. Cats crammed into cages and put in a shed to die in an olympic 'clean up'.
4. Mass extinctions and poaching of wild and endangered animals worldwide to quench the greedy chinese market for parts.
5. Bears kept in crush cages for 30 years whilst bile is extracted from their stomachs
6. Tiger farms where tigers are kept in deplorable conditions, then killed for parts.

Need i go on?

anon

August 19, 2008

04:44 PM

"The Beijing skyline today. It's only this clear because half of Beijing's private cars are off the road and they've shut down all the construction sites."

Why don't you also say "Fake Bird's Nest building" because "It's only there because it was built for the opening ceremony."

What's coming next? A person in the opening ceremony looked like he was flying. FAKE!!!

Tony

August 19, 2008

04:25 PM

How ignorant are you Stephen, seriously?

Fake Breeze? It was reported immediately after the ceremony (BY AGE) that in-built fans were attached to the flags. Only a sour man like you could turn such an insignificant detail, a technological advancement, and portray it in a negative light.

Fake (imaginary) threats? I wonder who would be the first (imaginary) reporter on the scene of an attack lambasting a lax defense force? Oh wait...

Fake spectators? The rent-a-crowds have been a hit with fans and players alike throughout. We're going to condemn extra neutral support now?

Fake Beach? So you want Beijing to create a beach for you now? Have you travelled outside Australia before?

Fake Fireworks, Singer, Minorities -- ignoring the ethical implications for a moment, the ceremony is whilst a celebration of a nation's heritage, ultimately, entertainment. Did any of these detract from my enjoyment of the performance? You cite Stewart's piece as support but it only further proves the point these incidences are common place among the world's popular entertainment.

Personally I find some of the ethical dilemmas raised in the games troubling, sure, but that's not what you've made this about. You've tried to highlight what you seem to think is a plethora of perceived 'problems' identified by the Western media. Your desperate efforts to cast negativity over such trivial, and in most instances, positive aspects of the games evidence what I can only surmise as some deep-seated emotional troubles hahaha. Seriously though, you're a joke.

PCPINGTANNY

August 19, 2008

03:23 PM

Stephen Hutcheon,

I see you now include "FAKE 16-YEAR-OLD" and "FAKE BREEZE" pictures on your blog.

Did you read my earlier comment? Do you bother to read readers' comments at all?

Without a proof, you cannot make claims the way you have done.

The facts that someone looks young and existence of 'some suggestions' are not a proof.

Even Valeri Liukin said: "If they cheat, shame of them. BUT WE HAVE NO PROOF."

I don't know whether He Kexin is 16 or under and I am not defending China. But your assertion without a proof is nothing but innuendo.

I don't recall seeing another journalist coming out with such eye-popping stuff. Does SMH actually sanction your writings? What's going on here?

Next on "FAKE BREEZE"...

I watched the opening ceremony on Seven. When the flags flapped in the wind, the Seven commentators actually mentioned that must be artificial wind coming from the flag poles and further commented that the Chinese "...have thought about everything...". That sounded like a compliment.

Stephen, it seems you think you have uncovered an evil ploy - the use of FAKE breeze...

I'm flabbergasted !

Stephen, I never knew you exist until reading your recent Beijing Olympic articles. But my impression of you is... (need I mention?).

Still waiting for an answer

August 19, 2008

02:53 PM

To those on the Free Tibet bandwagon, why do you want to free Tibet? Why don't you give Australia back to the Aboriginies?

Tell me why you would have China give Tibet back to 'Tibetans' but not give back Australia to the Aboriginies?

Pride from Syd

August 19, 2008

02:36 PM

Seriously, I don't understand why people are causing a storm about He Kexin. I believe that she should be left alone. Afterall, she was rewarded with the gold for her outstanding performance last night but not for her age. She won the GOLD fair and square. On another note, if age was such a big issue, why couldn't those so-called "over sixteen" gymnasts in the competition brag the gold for themselves? Considering the "additional" years of experience, they should be capable of winning gold. Yes? Shame on those who keeps bringing the "alleged fake age" up!

blazn

August 19, 2008

02:24 PM

My comments also seemed to get lost in the mail. Here's a second try anyway... since I'm a battler!!!

I thought it was funny that all this blog actually did was actually justify the chinese official's comments. I only wish i could see that as having come from a conscious place...

Further, it's an interesting and state of affairs (as an australian) to see another australian reference good, self depricating -american- humour with a message (something we used to be so good at!!) but not even get the laced irony himself.

At any rate, my faith was redeemed to see that the reading demographic are still equipped enough to respond with objectivity, intelligence and enough honesty to say `enough's enough.... let's compare apples to apples here'

dismally failure of a blog but interesting discussion.

time now to just `getoverit' as so aptly put by the poster with the namesake..

John

August 19, 2008

01:27 PM

Cont from my below post
· Fake beach-Stephen, I presume you like to play basketball (wooden surface) on red surf or grass with your kids, or you like to drive your car (concrete layering) on mud, mate, human being is good at creating for the occasion, I don’t need to teach you like a child that in fact, the house you are living are actually built of sand, wood, brick and cement that is not readily there when they start to built it
· Fake audience-good on the government to transport some people to witness the game, some of them may not have another chance to see another Olympics, I think they will have a good time and enjoy the break, even if it is organised. The audiences are organised by government does not mean it is not legitimate audiences, well, in the future, any youth audiences or school kids in Australia organised by Public School to any sort of events, will be classified as “fake audiences”.
· Fake 16 year old-Proof? Suggestion is not enough~
· Fake breeze-this is just absurd, I am sorry but I am just speechless now~ you don’t call this nitpicking? I really do not know what it is then!

Stephen, when there is a majority of the comments on your blog are opposing your post, mate, in a democratic society, you may need to reflect yourself if you still value “democracy”, well, unless you are politician, and you know, politician lies. Or I wonder if you just piss your post here, run away and never look back on our comments.

John

August 19, 2008

01:15 PM

Dear Stephen, just a few thoughts

· Fake firework-I wouldn’t risk my pilots’ lives for your visual enjoyment, how heartless you are for making it a big deal?!
· Fake child – who cares? I wouldn’t even know if it is the real Stephen writing this blog, and I wonder if you understand the culture of “face” in China. Let’s face it; the show’s organisers are artists, not philanthropists, what is wrong for the artists to ask for perfection?
· Fake minority children – come on, it is just symbolic, an Asian guy wearing a suit does not turn him white, but he will wear it for the occasion, same thing here. I never had a problem with Sydney2000 where some Aboriginals appeared to be white, and I actually think this is a great thing that the Aboriginals are well received by the white society and there were some sort of recognitions from each other, if a ordinary people like me had such a big heart, why our Award-winning journalist failed to do so?
· Fake sky-when china is polluting, you accuse them, when China is cleaning its act for the Games, you still accuse them. I just can’t believe you can insult the hard work and effort the people of China put into like that, Shame on you Stephen!

In Beijing

August 19, 2008

01:00 PM

I think the comment on the beach volleyball venue was harsh- although perhaps the event itself should have been staged in Hainan- afterall soccer, sailing and equestrian aren't in Beijing.

The singer swap was disgusting for the message it sent to young Chinese girls.

The fireworks was understandable, it was a massive operation and they did ACTUALLY happen, but the footage was from earlier rehearsals and then computer enhanced.

Nobody actually made proper reference to the part that had me most anxious- the goosestepping soldiers comandeering the Olympic flag...for an event that's about peace (supposedly), why the flag representing it was given to a bunch of gungho soliders was beyond me.

This article overall therefore a bit of a stretch to swallow. Western media is just the opposite of the Chinese, and both are wrong- these olympics don't mean that China is the greatest or the worst. On 25 August, China will still have a lot of problems and will still be a developing country, both Chinese and foreign media would be wise to realise that.

Waiting for an answer

August 19, 2008

12:52 PM

To those on the Free Tibet bandwagon, why do you want to free Tibet? Do you want to 'free' South Ossetia from Georgia too? Why don't you give Australia back to the Aboriginies?

Tell me why you would have China give Tibet back to 'Tibetans' but not give back Australia to the Aboriginies?

Big Bad Dalek

August 19, 2008

12:40 PM

Quick, someone tell Stephen Hutcheon that the sailing events are held in Qingdao and not Beijing. More evidence of China's duplicity. A entire city of more than one & a half times Sydney's population, faked, fake I tell you.

This is worse than the fake threat which left an American volleyball coach dead. Oh wait...

Magstar

August 19, 2008

12:26 PM

In Response to Once Racists, forever Racists's view on Tasmania

"Or lets say that Tasmania suddenly wants to go independent from Australia? What are your views on that?"

Hahahaha, Why would any Australian (besides those of you who reside in tassie) give a toss if we lost Tasmania.

Im so gald i come from a country that allows me the freedom to take the piss out of it...

tx

August 19, 2008

11:28 AM

The fake minority children- who told you they are real, it's just way to tell the world China is a country with minorities, each monority has their own language and culture. They are just the little actors and actresses for the opening. To invite the children in Beijing wearing clothes from different minorites is much easier to arrange and manage the rehearsal.
The Fake Singer- You guys like criticising everything from China, even we put the real singer on the stage, can you promise you will not criticising she is not good enough. To do this is just to show the best voice and the best appearance to the world.
Same reason for the fake firework.
The fake beach- because the sand in Beijing is not suitable for matches, the reason why we brought all sand all the way from Hainan Island is because we want to create the best competition condition. Otherwise, you guys will have chance to criticise again.
Every time China wants to show the positive side to the world, you dig out the negative side. Please value the effort China put. Could you please just enjoy the show instead of being busy with digging. Please give China a break, and give yourself a chance to show your mercy to the rest of world.

fake freedom

August 19, 2008

11:16 AM

A, a few comments i wrote were not posted too,fake freedom of press perhaps?

"Free Tibet!"...Why?

August 19, 2008

11:15 AM

To those on the Free Tibet bandwagon, why do you want to free Tibet? Do you want to 'free' South Ossetia from Georgia too? Why don't you give Australia back to the Aboriginies?

Tell me why you would have China give Tibet back to 'Tibetans' but not give back Australia to the Aboriginies?

David - The Chinese Agent

August 19, 2008

11:06 AM

I could not find my posters here either. So much so we are talking about no free media in China. The way SMH behaves is far worse than most Chinese forum. The SMH should get a GOLd for this.
Is this a "faked" forum?

Shenyi of Wuhan, China

August 19, 2008

11:04 AM

In reply to Jenny,

I agree with you that Chinese is not very good as taking critics or Western sense of humor from others. Guess it's something we gotta learn to live with!

But imagine the world media are full of news articles nitpicking Sydney opening ceremony, criticizing the negligible bits and pieces, showing zero appreciation but sour grapes, I guess you would react differently.

hehehe

August 19, 2008

11:02 AM

To Beijing Olympics Organizing Committee

Dear sir

We are writing you with regard to the beach volleyball venue after receiving a complaint from distinguished Aussie journalist Stephen Hutcheon who pointed out that the venue is not at the beach and therefore it is FAKE. After carefully reviewing the footage and pictures that Mr Hutcheon provided we regret to inform you that we have to agree with him despite the enormous efforts you have made transporting sand from 3 thousand miles away to Beijing ( which we do appreciate). This consist a serious breach of contract between us and severe damage may have already been done to the unenviable reputation of the Sport of Beach VolleyBall( pending investigation). According to the Charters of International Beache Volleyball Federation we should have asked for a immediate halt of all the games of Beach Volleyball however in the spirit of Olympiad and mutual benefits and also considering that matches are 90% finished we instead ask you to rename the Beach Volleyball at this Olympics to Fake Beach Volleyball and unfortunately the champions of this game have to be called Fake Olympic Champions of Beach Volleyball. Also in the spirit of damage control could you please install some huge water tanks around the beach volleyball venue with some great white sharks (alive) in them just to make the venue looking more real?

Please be advised we are talking with our lawyers regarding this and we reserve the right to seek compensation for any loss which may have incurred on us.

Sincerely

Ha Ha Ha Hutcheon

Chairman

International Beache Volleyball Federation

Max love AA and so what ?

August 19, 2008

10:54 AM

TO Di'Max Lumo,
Don't assume everyone has a brain like you. Someone like Max only has a pair of ears (to listen from western media) with a dirty mouth. They never understand sportmanship - when they lose, they'll try everything possible to blame others. When others present evidents like passport to prove the age, they will say that it's fake passport. Ouch, forget to tell you a fact, what his dirty mouth for, not to insult you or your country, but to KISS American Ass. Shame on you - LOSER.

Shenyi of Wuhan, China

August 19, 2008

10:51 AM

To Gold, Gold, Gold's comment on Once Racists, forever Racists

Let's not forget the Australian aborigines. Not only the entire land has been taken away from them which you now proudly call home, an entire generation has also been "stolen"! Have they ever had a choice?

Speaking of Tibet, do you know that Dalai was the largest slave owner in just over 50 years ago in Tibet? Do you realize that Dalai wants independence/autonomy of Tibet in order to apply his own dictatorship?

Are you only happy when you see the communist China is broken to pieces like the USSR? Drop your cold war attitude and grow up!

A

August 19, 2008

10:38 AM

After an extensive search, I noted that my comments yesterday about a generally fake world were not posted. I will swear on a stack of Bibles that they are definitely not offensive- objective and adversorial, yes, but not offensive. So much for free speech. I think I will move to China.

SAVAGE

August 19, 2008

09:57 AM

To the Chinese people.

Brilliant opening ceremony. (feel sorry for the poms, they're up next in 2012)

As for all the FAKE??? Who gives a s#$t? From a spectator point of view, that beat home and away hands down!!!!

Stephen Hutcheon should be arrested for posing as a journalist, the rubbish he's just spouted above, should be in all journo schools under the title of "what not to do, when on overseas assignment"

Jenny

August 19, 2008

09:53 AM

It's important to keep your humility and a good sense of humour. My friends and I laugh at how amateurish we were at the Sydney 2000 games - with lawn mowers and kids running around out of time. This is the Australian sense of humour. If you take offense at someone noticing your fireworks were fake, it isn't really that much of a big deal is it? Is it really a reason for excessive Chinese nationalism? Is it really a reason for criticising the moral value of Austrlians?

Shameonu

August 19, 2008

09:49 AM

To all those Anti-China posters, you have gone too far. Thinking about the origin of the Olympic Games, all the countries stopped the war during this special period, we lay aside the conflicts between each other, and joined together for only one goal - sport competition.

Why can't you just temporarily put down your Cold War thinking, leave all your hatred to China behind, let's just enjoy this short moment of peace!

getoverit

August 19, 2008

09:44 AM

All this emotion is killing me.
The Media (Eastern and Western) is the media - they report, they sesationalize, they filter, they tell half truths. Get over it.
The opening was great - so they made sure it was great (like this doesn't happen anywhere else). Get over it.
Some atheltes and coaches cheat or tell porkies - they get caught eventually (Marion). Get over it.
Banter between rival supporters is healthy - it's not personal, so don't make it. Get over it.
The Olympic Games has evolved to more than "for the love of competing". It's big business and big bucks now. As in any professional arena advantages are sought , bought and stolen. Get over it.
There is no need to go labeling countries or nationalities or professions under any one banner. To do so is ignorant, ill informed and make you look like a goose. Get over it.

An Humble Aussie

August 19, 2008

09:31 AM

To GOLD GOLD GOLD, your reply to ONCE RACIST FOREVER RACIST is interesting. Agree that his defence for Tibet issue is a bit weak. Can you please read the comment the agruments of "Marty Yau in Saudi" Posted on 18/8/08 03:01-5. I used to support FREE TIBET and brain washed by our (western) media, but after reading his messages, I am really confusing. I know you are clever (because you critize others stupid) so I really want to hear some sound arguments from you. Otherwise ,,,

Matthew

August 19, 2008

09:27 AM

This Nastia guy is nasty indeed! He hasn't been a yank for that long, but he is behaving like a typical yank. If you are an Olympics tragic like me, you will know the US has been on the receiving end of favouritism since the LA'84 games. How dare you point your finger at our aussie judge.

To Gold Gold Gold

August 19, 2008

08:47 AM

Every time you mention Tiananmen, mention Kent State!!!

ying

August 19, 2008

08:43 AM

It's surprisingly interesting to find someone to define 'fake' this way... I'm wordless. Can't you see the positive side of something, for example, the 'fake' fireworks is eviromental friendly? Why always critising everything related to China, even the Olimpics? Are you taught to be mean or even distort the truth to be a journalist? Your moral level is just too low to see something beautiful and that's why it's difficult for you to enjoy the the blue sky! Shame for you!

Big Bad Dalek

August 19, 2008

08:09 AM

Looks like lots of people are jealous because the Chinese are winning more medals. Heck, even the British are beating us.

Would you guys like some sour grapes to go with your whine?

Di'Max Lumo

August 19, 2008

07:58 AM

Max, use you brain. Do you really take those fake report serious ? American and Aussie rule of sport : When I win, I am a hero, when I lose, someones cheat. That is the sportmanship and quality of you LOSERs. Go to steal some gold medals and tell others that belongs to you next time.

To Gold Gold Gold

August 19, 2008

07:36 AM

"As demonstrated by the Tiananmen Square Massacre, they were dealing with protesters the same way as any other Totalitarian regime would, with Tanks and murderous gun fire. They were only immitating the likes of Hussein, Stalin, Hitler and countless other dictators who did not tolerate dissent
"

Why didn't you mention the US? They shot Kent State University students who were protesting the war. They US National Guard shot them dead! The students they shot were not even violent. They shot students walking to class. Every time you mention Tianamen, mention Kent State!!!

Max

August 19, 2008

06:58 AM

HOW ABOUT FAKE CHINESE PASSPORTS?

The U.S. MUST file a challenge to the ages of the three Chinese gymnasts in question who are clearly not of age to compete, according to the online documents filed by their own country in the recent past!
Since both the IOC and the gymnast federation lack the
whoo-haws to do so, someone must step up to the plate and determine once and for all if the Chinese girls (they certainly aren't old enough to be women!) are or are not of legal age to be competing in the Olympics.
Not to do so will taint their results and China's integrity and honor: if they are of legal age, proven to be by an independent, international tribunal (magical passports created by the Chinese government do not count), then the debate of their ages can be put to rest once and for all. If they are not of legal age then the IOC must strip China of those medals.
Failure to file a challenge, and to follow it through to its independent conclusion taints forever the results, the sport, the athletes getting the medals, the gymnast federation, the IOC. And, ultimately, the Olympic Games in perpetuity. What a shame.

If that doesn’t have you in stitches then you should think about tossing in your Communist Party membership, Comrade.

Gold, Gold, Gold.....

August 19, 2008

01:17 AM

China's Fake Achievement

Just eaxctly how is it the Chinese people’s business which political system they have? Do they get a choice? They have no choice in whether they live in a democracy or a dictatorship. The Chinese Communist Party has made that choice for them, for their own good of course. And if they don’t like it they can’t even leave.

I am not surprised you don’t care what political system they have to live with. You’re happy with the system you’re lucky enough to be in, and tough luck for those that don’t get a choice. They just need to stop being childish and grow up like you.

Gold, Gold, Gold.....

August 19, 2008

12:38 AM

Once Racists, forever Racists

Your defence of Tibetan oppression is as stupid as it gets, i.e if they have no sea port and can’t afford airports then they don’t deserve independence. I think you will find the Tibetans will happily accept a level of self governance and cessation of the systematic destruction of their culture and ethnicity by the Han Chinese. But of course what I would I know, only the Chinese Communist Party know what’s good for Tibet, and apparently Tasmania.

The difference between Tibet and Tassie is that Tasmanians see themselves as Australians and willingly joined the Commonwealth of Australia (yes they had a choice, something you don’t get in China). Tibetans do not see themselves as Chinese and had no choice in losing their independence to China. If you and others can’t see the huge difference there than you are stupider than you have made yourselves out to be.

And your suggestion that the Chinese Government does things it’s own way would be laughable if it wasn’t so tragic. As demonstrated by the Tiananmen Square Massacre, they were dealing with protesters the same way as any other Totalitarian regime would, with Tanks and murderous gun fire. Nothing original there. They were only immitating the likes of Hussein, Stalin, Hitler and countless other dictators who did not tolerate dissent

darkstar

August 18, 2008

11:40 PM

looks like a few commenters here with connections to Beijing (maybe they're among the legions of Chinese students spying in Aust). If only the worst thing China did was fake performances at the Olympics opening ceremony. China arbitrarily murders and tortures people. The Chinese Communist Party are no better than the mafia. And to the people to whom sports are more important than humanity, you are complicit in murder and torture. Understand what and who the Chinese leadership are.

Shenyi of Wuhan, China

August 18, 2008

10:09 PM

Trish Hunt, I wouldn't deny the media censorship in china and lack of freedom of speech in the country. As a developing country of 1.3B population we have come a long way, and the government has been working in resolving the remaining issues. But don't expect all of them to be fixed in in one day, one month or one year.

Why on earth would Chinese government sent some bloggers onto western web sites? Do you really think they need to?!! Or you've watched too much of CNN/BBC influenced aussie media.

You've witnessed all the comments on this blog. Imagine all the western news web sites there are in the world, you'd think China would have a *VERY* impressive team of multilingual professional commentators to respond to those web sites, wouldn't you? ;)

Perhaps I should visit my local city government tomorrow morning to collect my payment for writing this brief comment!

Pat San

August 18, 2008

09:51 PM

"shameonu
August 17, 2008 05:56 PM Pat San, could you show me some satire works of Sydney 2000? I am eager to have a look.

"to prevent sly capitalists from writing columns appearing to praise the government but actually criticising it ?
", capitalist or communist...Come on, jump out of Cold War, you're living in the 21st centry! China has opened their country, can you just open your mind?"

'Shameonu' with regard to satire works of Sydney 2000, I would point you towards the works of the duo of comedians known as "Roy and HG". These two made an art of satirising Australia's ridiculous obsession with sport, by making the serious trivial and the trivial serious, and Sydney 2000 was their finest hour. Google "Roy and HG" if you want to learn about satire.

As for the other comment, yes I agree, we have moved on from that, perhaps I could have made the comment more contemporary by substituting the words "sly capitalists" with "free thinkers."

Anyway, this is all just nitpicking, like the stupid western press. Can I ask you this question:

If this blog had been written in Chinese by a Chinese journalist, a string of photographic trivialities, with "fake this" and "fake that" labels in Chinese, obviously satirical, would you find it more acceptable ?

I don't ask this question in a facetious way, because I know that people all over the world prefer being mocked by their own kind than by others, not least Australians. Imagine for a moment, a couple of Chinese comedians taking the piss out of jingoism in Australian sport. I think it would be wonderful, but I think many Australians would not be amused.

Hang on, I think I just countered my own argument...

Back to Olympics on TV.

Let's Focus on what's Important

August 18, 2008

09:13 PM

Why do the media report on this crap? I don't care if it's fake or not - why? - because while we're focusing on this petty rubbish there are people in this world that are starving, being murdered, being raped, being robbed, being orphaned, being mutilated.....need I go on?

1) Sorry I didn't really get your point.
2) Are you talking about people of Ainu and all the rest of it? I take your point and I do not like this aspect of Japan at all.

3) I used the force eviction of Chinese people as an example of how I, an outsider (like the western media), can genuinely feel for people of China and not belittle you. This was a counter argument against a poster saying, "You guys are pretending to be concerned about China while really you want to belittle us." Which part of it did you not understand?

Yup I can hear you saying, "But you 'Japs' (thanks for that by the way, because I totally deserved it!) did all the horrible things in WWII! How could you feel concerened?"

Well read my comment to ML.

elecon

August 18, 2008

08:15 PM

To ML,
What has Japan's past got anything to do with what I said? Let's rewind...

Step 1) Some posters said, "western media's attack is racist."

*race* (noun) an arbitrary classification of modern humans, sometimes, esp. formerly, based on physical characteristics, as skin color, etc.

Step 2) I HAPPENED to use Japan for analogy as it's of the same/ similar race (now don't get emotional here- see definition above). My argument would've been as valid with Korea (Seoul '88) or any other Eastern Asian countries as long as they are of the same race.

Step 3) You provided me with rather passionate teaching of the history ("homework" it is!).

I'm still struggling with the shift from Step 2) to 3). Are you following me? Or has the national anti-Japan campaign been so successful that you can simply not help but use the WWII card in every opportunity possible?

Here's an analogy for you.

Step 1) John, a Brit, wants to question why his girlfriend was stolen by Jan (pronounced "Yan"), from a former war victim county Poland. Jan reckons it's racist that John complains.

Step 2) Hans, a geek from a former war criminal country Germany, says how he didn't think it was racist when he lost his girlfriend to a super hunk John.

Step 3) Jan goes: How dare you!! Do you know what your country did to us in the Holocaust??

Did you go WTF from Step 2) to 3)? If yes, that means you are able to use logic unless the evil "J" work appears.

By the way I do think what our anscesters (well I'm only half Japanese but anyway -am I 50% credible now?) did to your country is extremely inhumane.

Jarjar

August 18, 2008

07:47 PM

Nobody cares if the little girl was merely lipsynching!

All this Western fixation on the little Chinese girl from the Opening Ceremony.. is quite frankly bordering on... criminal. To put it lightly.

Woahie

August 18, 2008

07:44 PM

Pot...kettle..black.

At least China's not a fake democracy like the West.

Western Mainstream Media = Propaganda Machine.

2 sides, same coin. Really.

Will

August 18, 2008

07:18 PM

Don't be jealous guys...just because china/chinese are richer, more powerful and smarter! respect!

Marco

August 18, 2008

07:03 PM

The openening ceremony was fantastic, but then all these fake things became public and put a damper on it in a way, but it was still great. I read an article on annabelcastro.com about the opening ceremony. It said that they would try to keep some things hidden but the freaky thing is that I read it one week before the opening! It's all got to do with the number 8.

az

August 18, 2008

06:42 PM

I believe that when they say they lifted all those people out of poverty they measured the level at around $3 a day. With 8%+ inflation that doesn't mean much.

Big Bad Dalek

August 18, 2008

06:21 PM

How do you tell when a bunch of Australians have arrived?

Answer - when the plane lands down, the whinging starts.

Some guy from manly

August 18, 2008

06:03 PM

. . . I wonder why all of a sudden only in these Olympic games that the world decides to criticize the host nation in everything they do. these things happen to most of the countries in the world.. why aren't they criticized? what is this like a media war on china? we should let them sort out their problems and keep our "suggestions" to ourselves.

I mean if America did these things everyone would probably love it. but china did it and instead of looking at the bright side of things however "misty" haha they become like the harsh judges in gymnastics looking at every little movement they make. (by the way my friends say that the pictures with huge amounts of "smog" are taken very early in the morning... even sydney gets fog.)

Stevo in HK

August 18, 2008

06:02 PM

-Once Racists, forever Racists... What People object to is the heavy handed stifiling of free speech, of protesting against government corruption and collusion with corporate entities, of making corporations like Yahoo! betray client privacy to persecute and imprison them, of selling poisonous toys and food to hong kong and the west. Of a permanently manned firewall blocking the freedom of information to people so they cannot question the regime they live under. They object to the stifiling of the freedom to criticise and seek redress, something guaranteed ironically by the constitution of the Of the PRC. Turning the Olympic games from a bipartisan politics free event into an event engineered and run not by the Chinese people but by the Communist Party. Of threatening taiwan with invasion and death if they decide to maintain their own affairs...
These, these are just a short list of the Things the Chinese people have denied them that we have, and that western governments and media and populace object to!.....

JW

August 18, 2008

05:44 PM

Hi SH,
it took me quite a while to read all the comments, the topic becomes very HOT apparently. Regarding the whole 'fake' thing, it sounds quite funny as I sort of correlated it with the relationship of my mom and my wife. Mom has done a lot of things around, but my wife never seems notice any of them, however, she always picks some up that mom has not done perfectly, and starts making an issue from it and nagging. Somehow, war starts. I asked my wife why can't she see the things my mom did, she says was that what she supposed to do? What I suppose to say, as the poor bastard in the middle. No one’s perfect. Yeah, which one you will tell this to, your mom or wife? (sounds irrelevant to the topic, but it does)
My strategy is, say thank you to my mom, buy things for her every now and then. Turn the deaf ear to my wife, let her get her satisfaction.
JW

LSM

August 18, 2008

05:44 PM

Stuff you Hans Brix. Don't you know how busy I am?

Mark

August 18, 2008

05:30 PM

Having lived in China for the last 6 years it never fails to amaze the incredible ignorance of Australians & Brits & Americans etc. George Bush making his moronic statements about freedom & democracy.....unbelievable! The facts are that China is changing at a phenomenal speed. The government is communist in name only. they actually very closely monitor the mood of the people and adjust accordingly. sure it is not democracy but why should it be? Can anyone imagine the chaos that would ensue by giving 900,000,000 poorly educated farmers a vote? In my opinion it is in the whole worlds interest that China's growth is managed exactly as it is right now. you won't find too many Chinese complaining but if they do be sure that CNN or the BBC will weed them out & heroically put them on prime time! Let the Chinese enjoy their Olympics & grow up! Here's a thought, if you feel so strongly opposed to China then how about boycotting their goods? Don't buy anything 'Made in China'! Hope you can still pay the mortgage

Mao's last sucker (FAKE anyway)

August 18, 2008

05:07 PM

-If you speak Cantonese, Aussie can sound like "poo-ing", "shitting in the toilet". My in laws just couldn't help laughing when he heard Aussie oi oi oi. ("huzzah!!! huzzah!!!")

-In 2000 Games,homeless guys were "asked" not to sleep on the streets along the Pitt and Bridge streets or CBD areas. Damn! how dare the Chinese copied us. Piracy!! (not pirates ok!!? pirates R us, the opium trader who selling rum to the Abo)

-The cut and paste platform at Licombe station for the Game was and is a joke. The job is considered done ok. NOT FAKE TRAIN STATION!!! NOT FAKE PLATFORM!!I am not happy!!

-Sour grapes?? what sour grapes? "huzzah"

Laowai

August 18, 2008

04:52 PM

Racist,

I am pleased that you see Chairman Mao for what he really was, not many Chinese can do that. Although I don't see Bush starving his own people.

After living in China for 10 years I believe that most of the things the government are doing are correct and that the country is generally on the right path. However there is some things that are disappointing, and not letting the Tibetans run things in Tibet is one such thing. I disagree with you that the Tibetan economy would collapse, they would earn enough off tourism. The idea that Tibetans need the Han Chinese to keep them out of poverty is just arrogance.

The frustrating thing is that there is a simple solution, automotomy for Tibetans within China, which is what the Dalai Lama advocates. Unfortunately the fake idea that he advocates independance, as promoted by the Chinese government, and the fake idea that Tibet should separate, as promoted by some ignorant people in the West, prevent such a solution.

STGH

August 18, 2008

04:02 PM

Maybe China could be wrong, but, in some ways, all this "fake" stuff would make the opening ceremony even more spectacular...!

r420

August 18, 2008

03:57 PM

just one thing: don't know if someone has mentioned it before, but it's JON not JOhN Stewart; jon comes from Jonathan Stuart Leibowitz

tigs

August 18, 2008

03:56 PM

Beijing's not a coastal city. What, you want them to grow a genuine beach for you? Moron.

Once Racists, forever Racists

August 18, 2008

03:37 PM

Grow up people. So you like to think that China is a horrible country full of corruption, lack of freedom and totalitarian control over its people. You people protest over China's refusal to negotiate with Tibetans for their freedom.

But think. What would happen if China really did let Tibet go independent? What would happen to their economy? Tibet is a poor area and without the Chinese government, it simply would not survive. They have no sea port, nor sufficent funds build airports. So they have no trade with other countries which is the basis of an economy. Or lets say that Tasmania suddenly wants to go independent from Australia? What are your views on that?

China has its own form of governance, its own rules, its own culture and its own ways of dealing with things. Just because they don't do things the way that USA and Britain do does NOT mean they are incorrect.

And when you criticise the Chinese government, thing of the facts. We are talking about a goverment who lifted the most populous nation out of poverty in a decade. We are talking about a government that improved the living standards in their country by triplefold. Stop comparing the current Communist party to Mao Zedong. Sure he was a horribly insane leader that drove the nation to bits. But isn't George Bush doing the same? And George Bush is even worse. He invades dozens of other countries, slaughters hundreds of thousands of civillians in 'peacekeeping' operations. Then he goes on to denounce Russia's defence of South Ossetia. Hypocrite much?

So people, before you let your natural white vs black vs asian instincts kick in, think of the facts and think of what is right and wrong.

I know

August 18, 2008

02:50 PM

To hehehe and MyNameIsWond-GamesWond , your posts are so hiliarious. Well done!

To YouAreNitPicking, I agree with you 100%. Whenever I post a comment in a Chinese website, it comes up immediately so I can see it, whereas I have to wait for 2 hours or more see my own comments get posted here. (suppose they're being approved) Or maybe they are indeed checking the IP address, e.g. from CCP? Is this supposedly "freedom of speech"? I just don't get it.

I've read all the comments here and I have noticed once in a while some anti-China comments pop up. Now with all the explanation written by the bloggers, I would expect that people will come to understand these issues a little better. But no, there always seem to be a bunch of people who just keep on attacking relentlessly. This makes me wonder if the average Aussie is really so thick and cannot think for themselves. I have come to the conclusion that these people probably work for Pauline Hanson and just want to seed hatred and provoke racial tension here.

And by the way, did anyone care to read the terms and conditions?

"We retain the right and discretion (but not the obligation) to edit, delete, reject or remove any comment which you post or seek to post in the comments areas.

5d)which racially or religiously vilifies, incites violence or hatred, or is likely to offend, insult or humiliate others based on race, religion, ethnicity, gender, age, sexual orientation or any physical or mental disability; or
5e)which you know or suspect (or ought reasonably to have known or suspected) to be false, misleading or deceptive.

How ironic?

China's Fake Achievement

August 18, 2008

02:49 PM

From 1988, China not only improved remarkablly in every Olympics, but also, she had also brought more than 600 million people out of poverty to real prosperity. China is continueing to do that–bringing millions upon millions of people out of poverty (there are still about 700 million rural peasantry population living under very poor condition. So, in the last two decades alone, China was able to improve dramatically the lives of about THIRTY Australia population. What have we done to our own regular citizens here at home. I see income disparity continues to increase, never ending corporate scandals/crises.

I don’t care what kind political system they have, it is ultimately their people’s business. At least, on the basic huamn rights (a roof over your head, food on your table, kids in school)front, they are doing a heck of job (the Chinese government together with the poeple of China). So, stop being childish, wake up and grow up.

the 'writer' refers to the removal of offensive posts on the official forum as the act of 'propaganda minions'.

The first condition on the smh blogs is:
1. We retain the right and discretion (but not the obligation) to edit, delete, reject or remove any comment which you post or seek to post in the comments areas.

So if your propaganda minions can let this post through, it will make the point that the desperation to paint the Chinese Olympics as totalitarian is getting just a little tired and overdone, if not hypocritical.

Barry

August 18, 2008

02:13 PM

Grow up Australian, don't become like the Americans. And don't try to exploit the word FREEDOM. Respect others if you want others to repect you.
Don't bring our counrty's law into other and think that theirs are wrong. Every counrty have its law and we should respect it. Olympic is a sporting event, don't make a political propaganda out of it.

Gold, Gold, Gold.....

August 18, 2008

02:08 PM

Wendy

I doubt anyone saw white guys with mud paint painted on their faces and bodies at the Sydney Olympics Opening ceremony. You would have seen the opposite, Aboriginals with white ceremonial paint streaked across their faces and bodies. It's a traditional thing.

The numerous orchestrated and childish arguments posted on this forum in support of the Beijing Olympics is symptomatic of a Totalitarian Regime. I am sure the North Koreans would be impressed by your single minded beligerance.

The fact is you are only free to express your opinions within China as long as they agree with the ruling Communist Party. There is no debate, no press or internet freedom, in fact no political freedom at all. That so many feel the need to pretend otherwise is sad. You are either deluded or disingenious.

Raymond

August 18, 2008

01:58 PM

Sour grapes, anyone?

Thanks to my fellow Aussies for showcasing our top poppy syndrome, is that the best we can do? Nobody from IOC has announced these Games “the best ever”, why are we so desperate to protect ourselves? Is this the best we can do?

Shame on you!

Barry

August 18, 2008

01:56 PM

if there are no beaches in Beijing, of course they have to get the sand from somewhere else. Use your little narrow-minded head and think.

Also, about the minority group children, what China is trying to show to the world is there are a lot of minority groups in China and not trying to proof these children's origin. Another stupid comment was first appears on the american news.

With the comment about the fake spectators, are you telling me that at the Sydney 2000 or Athen, there were no plain clothes police that are acting as spectators for security reasons. The Chinese government is trying their best to keep the game under safeguard, and here you are criticising their effort.
Again, such a narrow-minded people.

One final question to you all looser, do you see the Chinese government and their peoples criticising other country all these years.

Start growing up my friend, otherwise you be falling behind.

Wil

August 18, 2008

01:37 PM

Is the statement of fact discrimination or distortion? No. Most of the replies here are from people that are not used to the truth being reported. Australian media publishes what organisers and polititians DON'T want published. This is freedom, not the brainwashed responses that are being peddled here. I am embarrashed for the organisers that they had to stoop to dishing up fake children, fake singers and fake spectators. Maybe in Sydney people mimed, but at least they were miming their own singing!
I think China has to come a long way and their population needs to come even further to understand what the western media and freedom of ideals, ideas and thought are all about.
And now the organisers won't even front a press conference because they can't control the questions the journalists ask...

Wendy

August 18, 2008

01:24 PM

To Gold Gold Gold,

you obviously didn't see the white guys with mud paint painted on their faces and bodies at the Sydney Olympics Opening ceremony.

ahmooi

August 18, 2008

01:13 PM

Dear MyNameIsWond-GamesWond,

1 more thing that I would like to add to your list:

remember the FAKE Kevin Rudd poster which was brought to the parliament house not too long after he was appointed our PM, while he was on his world-tour making good repo with other countries leaders.

Greygoose

August 18, 2008

01:04 PM

Aussies whinge and whine too much about everything. Can't hack the fact that despite being a land of riches, we lack the creativity and drive to propel or great nation forward, hence we critise others for their achievements. Complaceny my friends, will get us nowhere. Look at the US.....soon we will become like them reminescing the good old days when we used to be this and that....

A fake Chinese

August 18, 2008

12:51 PM

After being bombarded by western articles of "fake" Chinese stories, I am suspecting if I was faked by my parents.
I think this is the starting pointing of assimilating myself into a world of modern civilization.

MyNameIsWond-GamesWond

August 18, 2008

12:48 PM

Dear PRC Intelligence Agency, this is 008 working as undercover agent in OZ. I'd like to report numerous fakes I have found in OZ.

Stephen Hutcheon's glasses are faked, they are made of part plastic - part glass materials that improve the functioning of eyes, but are not eyes! Can you believe it, they are not human flesh?!

After extensive investigation, I've also discovered that during the Sydney 2000 Olympics Opening Ceremony, those "cowboys" that ran onto the field on horsebacks are fakes. Can you believe it, only one of them had lived in the outback for more than a year, all the rest are actors?!

Kevin Rudd is a faked OZ PM. Does it make any sense to you that an Aussie PM has a boyish round face and speaks Mandarin?!

What's more, John Howard is a faked personality all together. Have you ever noticed that the only expression you can see from his face is something that resembles a human frowning, although sometimes he tried to fake a human smile with the mechanical pulling of his mouth. He is actually a robot! I have reliable insider information from ASIO that Johnny is just all wired chips under his skull, sometimes he goes berserk because he is receiving conflicting instructions from both Buckingham Palace and the White House.

Oh yeah, almost forgot, Australia is a faked country! There has never been a real country called Australia! 280 years ago, this was Abo land occupied by hundreds of abo tribes, then a certain chef (in Aussie English they call him Cook) from England came here on a boat, he declared Australia a faked country cos it's still Queen's-land.

My name is Wond, Games Wond. All the pleasure is mine!

OverseasHunk

August 18, 2008

12:45 PM

* voltaire August 17, 2008 11:43 PM

Voltaire, you mis-informed fool!

If China raise the price of goods and labour, the effect will be propagated to the whole world and all economies will be in recession. That is how much the world is dependent on China and vice versa.

If you don't grow your own food in the backyard and suddenly your supplier stops supplying you food, I bet you'd be one crying customer.

Know your place in this world fool!

Vvvv

August 18, 2008

12:34 PM

Hello Citizen of the World or Should i say Hello Survival of the Fittest...which one are you?

Aussie mates, give it a Fair Go! Our Journalists have been acting like a goat...what a Garbo! Its good time to appreciate others..Get off their back, Scobie!! Have a good look at yourself!!!

The opening ceremony was great...actually so much appreciated from every corners of the world, whether it was all laired up and all froth, its a matter of personal opinion...!

Relax and enjoy the Games mate..bring the spirit of sportmanship! Advance Australia Fair...!

joe

August 18, 2008

12:24 PM

Stephen Hutcheon

Are you for real?

Why the heading

1. "The Fake Wall of China"?
and the use of the phrase

2. "Fake Olympic moments"

For a start, you can touch a wall, it is solid. If you bang you head against it, you will come off second best.

Secondly, have you heard of stage shows and stuntman and stuntwomen used in movies? My God, the opening ceremony is a stage show. You are suppose to use the latest in technology to make sure the show is great, with impact and low risk of malfunstions.

Why don't you go to Fox studios in Sydney and Hollywood, have a look at how movies are made. Everything you crap on about is done everyday of the week. For your so-called blue sky, go to Los Angeles or Mexico City, you get the same level of peasoup haze when the the air is still.

By the way, using visual effects instead of fireworks is good for the environment and health.

Matt

August 18, 2008

12:24 PM

The atmosphere is so un-Australian in the last few weeks, stereotyping in the media is suffocating, where is our fair-go spirit? As one of the 15,000-strong (yes, fifteen thousand) Aussie expats in Shanghai(OK an ex-expat, I am now back home in Sydney), I am asking you lot who has been brain washed by our so called free media, how many of you have been to China? How many of you have mixed with the locals?

Chinese Youth

August 18, 2008

12:04 PM

Well done, Stephen! You and your fellow SMH journalists have helped me to understand Australia and its people enormously - how narrow minded, self centred and ignorant, you are. Just be mindful that the youth in China like me, hundreds of millions of us, yes, hundrends of millions, are nowadays eyes wide open to read what the world are saying about us. Your contribution to the future relationship between Australia and China is also invaluable, because Chinese has a long memory of who are the true friends and who show respect when they visiting our home.

We accept the fair criticism and we are working on it - that is how we are improving in the past decades. We also see the true color of western media, under what is so call "freedom of press", and if it is what democracy and freedom is about, we do not want it. You have done something that the Chinese Communist Party dreamed about. Your news story is more powerful than all the brainwashing I have received in the past ten years! Keep up with your good work. Well done in deed.

Suppression worse than mis-information?

August 18, 2008

12:01 PM

Okay, so China is suppressing news which may destabilise the Government but while it is different from what we have, is it any worse? Afterall, Western Governments use the media to lie to and misinform the public through and allowing the media to do what they want has resulted in fear mongering, attention/money hungry reports that incite racism and intolerance.

what is democracy

August 18, 2008

11:35 AM

I have lived over 20 years in NZL/AUS, and last 3 years in China. My experience so far is I can safely walk any street in China 24/7, but there are many places in Auckland and Sydney where even locals will want to avoid. Am I a fool to suggest I feel I have more personal freedom in China than I do in NZL or AUS?

As for those saying no democracy in China - how is it democratic if Bush can become president with less then 50% of votes??

Try to implement instant western style of democracy for any country with over 1.3 billion people and you have to admit it is not going to be easy.

From my personal view I think China government is doing a good job trying to keep the country on the growth path while opening up to the world. The world is already unstable with the probelms in middle east, africa, etc. It is not in the interest of the world to see 1.3 billion people protesting for independence and each one wanting to set up country of their own - not now anyway.

All those people crticizing China for oppressing their citizens - how many of you actually been to China and mixed with the locals? or are you just repeating the views and statements you see from selective political and media sources? I lived in China for last 3 years and I have met more locals and heard their views about their government than your average joe, so at least my views are from my personal experience, not some politically motivated organisations sources.

Richard

August 18, 2008

11:24 AM

Stephen, you degrade yourself with this story.

Fake beach? Of course it is - Beijing is a landlocked city. The Chinese want everything to be the best they can, so they brought sand from Hainan which is famous for the quality of its beaches. What precisely is wrong with that?

I am very disappointed in the quality of the SMH journalists at this Olympics.

China has a lot of problems and its government is totalitarian - everyone already knows this.

But I am in Beijing and you know what, the ordinary Chinese I speak to, in Chinese, are often having a good time and enjoying the Olympics. If you spent more time talking to them, you might get a better perspective.

Yesterday at the rowing, the security guards were all posing with the Danish medallists, having their photos taken and having fun. In every restaurant I eat at - from fancy to gritty-local - people are craning their necks to see the TV.

Not every aspect of these games is ideal - but neither was it at previous games. One of the most disappointing aspects of all is the quality of the Australian media coverage.

You, sadly, are continuing an apparently-growing tradition of Australia appearing to be a nation of whingers.

khing

August 18, 2008

11:14 AM

TV channel 7 showed clearly beautiful blue sky at about 7.30 am.in beijing and also the last few days. you mean australian tv channel is faking?

KJ

August 18, 2008

11:14 AM

Dear Stephen Hutcheon,

I suppose you have nothing better to do in Beijing than peeling stickers from the toilet bowl of your hotel room.

Bravo for uncovering another Chinese fake!

biased against tyrants

August 18, 2008

10:42 AM

sick of the race-card playing anti-west comments all across the intertubes.

there's a difference between percieved 'bias' and absolute state control over information. china daily is filled with lies from cover to cover, so let's get some perspective here. the CCP is no slur victim - it wants to stop the international media from reporting its dirty secrets and way it can.

China's suppression of news media shows contempt for the truth and those who would report it - the international press have shown remarkable restraint in turn.

hehehe

August 18, 2008

10:35 AM

To Pulitzer Committee

Dear members of the committee

I am writing you to strongly recommend Mr Stephen Hutcheon of the Age, Melbourne Australia for this year’s Pulitzer price. Mr Hutcheon is a hardworking investigative reporter who distinguished himself from the otherwise mediocre pack of journalists who are busy reporting on various boring, nitty-gritty sports at this year’s Olympics in the severely polluted Capital of communist China, Beijing. By just sitting in his otherwise clean hotel room Mr Hutcheon, a naturally intuitive and clairvoyant thinker, refused to be blindfolded and fooled by the superficially lustrous show put on by the Chinese communists. Instead he digged in and through laborious and painful searching he managed to uncover copious evidence of the Chinese communists’ despicable faking of everything to do with the Beijing Olympics and their evil intent to swindle the goodwill and entertainment of the peoples of the world. By doing so, Mr Hucheson achieved in waking up the gullible of the West and such an achievement should not go unrecognized therefore a suitable prize should be conferred on him and if you already run out of the prize categories I recommend a new Prize of Sour Grapes should be created with Mr Hutcheon as the first winner and I am confident my proposal is going to be wholeheartedly supported by many victims of the Beijing Fake Olympics

Sincreley

hehehe

Drosophila

August 18, 2008

10:33 AM

This Olympics is a huge propaganda and corporate marketing exercise by the host government and the IOC, as all Olympics are. Authoritarian governments, imposing rigid media controls, are able to spin their messages more blatantly and ruthlessly than can governments of countries with so-called press freedom, and China is a case in point. If the best Stephen Hutcheon can do to expose the propaganda machinations of the Chinese government is to point to these ubiquitous, irrelevant show-biz "fakes", he is clutching at straws, has made a laughing stock of the "free press" and shot himself in the foot. It appears he has been outwitted on the more subtle yet paradoxically obvious point entirely. The whole shebang of the Olympics has become a massive propaganda exercise for the vested corporate and nationalistic interests of the day. Admitting and exploring the implications of this fact for the world of sport is necessary to understanding and exposing the draconian means by which the Chinese government has exploited it brilliantly. But such a task may be beyond this journo, both too intellectually challenging and too close to the bone. Instead he has chosen to play in a (fake) sandpit.

Aussie is number one again

August 18, 2008

10:24 AM

to sharon of melbourne, Absolutely agree with you that :

"They have no position of the leadership of the world when normal behavior as expected in a civilized world (respect freedom, human right) is absented.

Proud of them ? Aussie got 5 x Golds and 1 x Silver, while your big brother USA get 3 Golds. So, you still in the leadership position. Right ?

skinz

August 18, 2008

09:46 AM

Can somebody please rewind to sydney and compare what was faked there. Relocation of some aboriginals springs to mind.

Sick of double standards

August 18, 2008

09:10 AM

Sharon of Melbourne,

Why is a ten year old miming a song, sand brought in from another city and digital fireworks (which looked great) worse than America's deceiving us about weapons of mass distruction in Iraq?

And Stephen Hutcheon,

WTF? You're criticising them for trying to make the sky blue?

YouAreNitPicking

August 18, 2008

09:09 AM

Ha ha...

Talking about free speech and press, I just found that posts on this site were subject to inspection and approval.

My goodness. Are you kidding me? I NEVER encounter a Chinese website doing this by apprvoving posts before displaying them! This is just unbelivable happening in "free speech free press" world.

tigs

August 18, 2008

09:05 AM

I respect journalism as a profession. But the amount of Groupthink I've observed makes me wonder if some journalists are any better than self-righteous bloggers like Elecon.

One reporter on channel 7 said with surprise 'the chinese people are actually very welcoming, not robotic at all.' Yes, we do habitually walk around like zombies because of the tiny microchips implanted in our frontal lobes. Is she for real?

Grow a brain, smh and channel 7. Or rather, grown your own brain. you might find it useful to think for yourself someday.

YouAreNitpicking

August 18, 2008

09:00 AM

You are a typical example of nit picker. Tell me, what is wrong with the "fake beach"? What is wrong with creating a beach necessary for the game?

And what is wrong with the "fake bluesky"? Beijingers are trying their best to offer westners like you a clearner environment for you guys to enjoy a better stay, yet you are blaming them doing this. How about if Beijingers doing nothing to improve the air quality during the game? I guess you'll shout at top of your lung that "Beijinger's air is too filthy for us westerners to survive. Let's get out of there quickly".

China certainly has its problems and there are many problems it faces. I, as a Chinese, don't deny it. But you should be objective. China has a huge population and it is still relatively poor. It has a lot to do to strike a balance between tackling polution and keep developing economy quickly. China is acting necessary steps to try to bring the polution down but with such a huge population (thus huge number of vehicles, huge consumption of energe etc) it is a difficult task.

Comparing to US and Australia, per head greenhouse emission in China is less.

West world has done its industrialization and had its fair share of polution already. Isn't it fair to point a finger at China after you guys have already poluted the planet.

kraken

August 18, 2008

08:16 AM

Crikey, some very balanced comments here - chips on both shoulders proudly displayed. I have labeled these Olympics the 'no fun' games. The empty rhetoric on show here reveals why.

The Olympics have become a nationalistic showpiece, and China did'nt establish the template - a tyranny in Germany did. It is a shame that unaccountable tyrannies are awarded the games because the propaganda underpinning the event takes away from the marvelous athletic achievements (minus the drug cheats).

Admittedly, the fake aspects of the games are a minor issue, given the human rights violations perpetrated by this regime on its own citizens, but they are indicative of something more malevolent. Non-party citizenry are nowhere to be found at these soulless games. PLA units in civvies were deployed to contrive a human presence in areas such as the cycling route, but it did'nt fool anyone. The new elites, party apparatchiks mainly, have obviously been issued large swags of tickets, but only show up when China is a key participant.

Rights to protest have been denied the citizenry, despite claims to the contrary by the regime. Any foreigner who deigns to raise a voice of protest is quashed ruthlessly. A British journalist covering a 'free Tibet' protest was roughed up by the police.

Let's face it, this is a police state that denies its citizens the rights people in progressive democracies take for granted. It cannot abide criticism, although it clearly has inordinate power. It is an immature body politic that is insecure and lacking self-confidence in its image of itself.

Echoes of the cultural revolution can be heard resounding through the empty spaces and seats that are characterizing these Games, bereft of ordinary people and closely guarded by the regime's praetorian guard.

Sharon of Melbourne

August 18, 2008

08:04 AM

The world beware:The Beijing Olympic numerous farces and restriction of press freedom, propaganda, staged spectators, faked singers, faked fireworks etc... are forewarning signs of worst to come, if they became a superpower.

They are in no position of leadership of the world when normal behaviour as expected in a civilised world (respect freedom, human rights) is absent.

bob

August 18, 2008

08:03 AM

... fake allegations that the Dalai Lama is a terrororist...

Beijing-Olympics-better-than-Sydney

August 18, 2008

07:54 AM

Hey Aussie mate, thanks for your double standard comment. The only thing I can say is a small-minded country and its people will be won over by a open-minded nation.

chinese agency

August 18, 2008

07:50 AM

Lisa, don't expect they will explain their logic to you. we call it double standards and bias, but they will call you and me chinese nationalists or someone employed by the ccp. what you want is a logical debate but what they want is just insulting your country. when i was in primary, i was told that media is a means to monitor govt. when i get older, i was told that china behave a different way, media is the tools of govt, and this practice is wrong - i agreed. but now i can see that the mass media in australia is even worse. it is not able monitor its own govt, but to spread fake info like this to the public. in their eyes, american is their only hero.

martin yau, your post is the most informative one with very convincing agruments. i take some time finishing it and find it is very useful. but don't expect other aussies here is able to finish it. that most probably the reasons why most kids achieved excel academic results in aussie schools are chinese if not indians. that is the quality of local aussies. to dom kon ding, your observation is so true. when i travelled to hkg last time, a lot of my assuie classmates asked me to buy fake watches and handbags with them and their girlfriends. when i ask my univ classmates come from hkg and taiwan if they want me to buy some with them, they asked "what ? you still need those cheap stuffs ??" sounds like to me that the world is really changing.

ahmooi

August 18, 2008

07:29 AM

Why are the foreign reporters more interested in getting and nitpicking all the "fake stuff" that China has done rather than reporting the sports itself?

Does it make the reporters' home country more superior than China if they are able to find as much minute issues of China?

I think the foreign reporters are just feeling jealous, insecure and frightened with the fast development of China, especially in the recent years, and not being able to accept the fact of it.

Shame on you, the foreign reporters!

lisa

August 18, 2008

06:00 AM

Stephen and Jacquelin:

The readers deserve a explanaition from you two why it is ok if Sydney did it (painted grass, lip syncho-singing, bused spectators around etc), but it is not ok if Beijing did it. Can you explanain your logic?

We are expecting quality reports from a award winning jouralist, not this kind of cheap shot. This is tasteless and shallow.

China is running under a different system, and maybe will always be. The journalists can do lot to bridge the gap between different cultures and enhance the understanding between people. It is a shame that SMH is taking the hard front line to bash china, it makes me wonder the cold war has not ended yet, at least for journalist like you.

You have no idea how the future genaratoins of Australia will relate to China. The development of china is vital to our future. It is a shame SMH is feeding Australia public with these nitpicking information on day by day basis. Shame on you, Stephen, same on you, Jacquelin.

I have to point out Jacquelin you faked so called china's broken promises to IOC. According to Wang wei, China did not make any promise to IOC, only broadly outlined the prospective the Olympics will bring to China.

Marty Yau in Saudi

August 18, 2008

03:05 AM

Vice Premier Hui Liangyu (Chinese: 回良玉 ) is one of the top rank Chinese Communist Party member,
who is from the Hui Muslim minority etnic group. (A Communist and a Muslim how can that be, well,
it can only happen in China)

Mosques in China, build after the cultural revolution are much grander than Mosques that you could find in
the entire Australia. I remembered seeing the 7:30 report of ABC how residents of a suburb in Sydney,
vehemently oppossed a Muslim school to be build in their suburb.
In fact, Australians have to learn from China a few things,
how to treat their Muslims brothers and sisters better.

Muslims have lived in China since the 9th century. That is only 3 centuries after the death
of the Prophet Mohammad. Even at the height of Cultural Revolution, the oldest Mosque in Beijing was
left in tact. (Beijing Niu Jie Mosque who was build in the 900, is worth a visit to witness
the multicultural of China)

If you want to bash China on the aspect of no religious freedom,
the Muslims of China are in fact freely supported in their religious
obligations by the PRC. Record numbers are doing their pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia on
special Air China flights during the Eid Adha, with medicos and Arabic speaking guides accompanying the
pilgrims. I don't expect to see this as being a priority to any
Australian government to extend this kind of facility to the Muslims of Australia.

I remembered an English saying, those who lives in a glass house should not throw stone. I think,
this is so appropriate to the journalists in SMH.

Marty Yau in Saudi

August 18, 2008

03:03 AM

Isn't that about the same? China has a close link with Tibet since the old age. Some of the Chinese
princesses from by gone dynasties even married the ruler of Tibet.

There can be no denying that both colonization and genocides are appalling. (ie the Australian and Chinese
version) However, does it mean that the white settlers and their descendents
including recent migrants to Australia need to abandon the land for the Aborigines and Torres Strait
islander of Australia? If your answer is YES then it is quite legitimate if you demand
China to abandon and surrender the land to the Tibettan people.

Chinese minority ethnic groups enjoys many "Equal Opportunity status" similar to that enjoyed by
Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders in Australia. In fact, they enjoy far more priviliges than
Australian Aborigines in Australia.

Have you seen a canteen specially providing food for Aborigines or Muslims in Australian
Universities? No way, right, But in Chinese Universities, Muslims minorities (Hui, Khazaks, Kryzik,
Tibetan Muslims - [Yes there are Tibettan muslims too] and many other minorieties proffessing Islam
as a religion) enjoy their Halal food in
a seperate dining hall. A free education system is provided by the state, if the minorities try hard
their effort will pay off handsomely.

They also enjoy 10 extra mark for entrance into Universities, so they can slack off a bit in comparison
to the Han Chinese. Some athletes of the minorities even compete in this Olympics
much like Cathy Freeman competed in the Olympics for Australia.
You perhaps would like to find out more
about these athletes, such as Silamu Hanati, Qiong Maimaitituersun, Yushan Nijiati, Riguleng Si,
Rijigawa Si and Ritubilige Wu

Marty Yau in Saudi

August 18, 2008

03:01 AM

Dear readers and owner of this Blog,

I am happy to see that this blog generates a lot of pros and cons about China.
I think this is positive and hopefully generates curiosity amongst the ordinary Australians
to learn more about Tibet and also particularly China, and to learn the truth,
without reliant on biased journalism.

One trick I learned is, to consult a media which is pro
American such as CNN or recently SMH, and check the Chinese version of the same piece of news
(China Daily or CCTV 9), then consult another neutral source for example Al-Jazirah.
At the end of all this effort, then draw your own conclusion. This is important, as we
should not be fooled again for the likes of past propaganda such as Weapon of Mass Destruction that
simply did not exist in Iraq. Instead, we have an unjustified invasion of Iraq that brought miseries
and hardships to innocent people, who just like you and me,
deserve to go about doing their daily life peacefully.

You would think that I should get a life or have way too much time on my sleeves and yes, I do
because of the country where I currently live, whereby censorship on the Internet makes China looks
like a free society. But I am not here to critizice my host country, as that would be bad manners.

I want to draw a parallel, between the colonialization of Australia by White Settlers
and the occupation of Tibet by the Chinese since the Qing Dynasty.
You can check more details on site such as Wikipedia, by typing Tibet or Australia as key words.

Dom Kon Ding

August 18, 2008

02:32 AM

I have seen numerous westerners including many aussies coming to china and HKSAR to buy fake goods including gucci and LV....afterall, 'some people' love fake stuffs too....cheers

voltaire

August 17, 2008

11:43 PM

China is the new superpower? What a joke!

Sure they could be one day - but a superpower wouldn't be so sensitive to criticism would they? Just look at the yanks. Everyone hates them after invading Iraq and they just don't care - re-electing Bush.

Don't count your chickens until they are hatched.

In the meantime - if you want the global games in your country then you will just have to deal with global attitudes. The rest of the world are the customers that are fueling China's growth, without whom there would be no economic miracle and no Olympic games in China. The games are a creation of the decadent west and China has broken it's promises that it made to win the games - particularly the promises of transparency. So perhaps China should take a tried and true shopkeepers saying to heart: "The customer is always right"

ML

August 17, 2008

11:19 PM

To elecon:
It is utterly absurd that you use Japan as an exemplary model of self-reflectiveness. Again, I have to draw your attention to the failure of the majority of Japanese people in acknowledging those undeniable crimes that the country has committed in China and throughout the rest of Asia in the early 20th century.

During that time:
- Japan murdered roughly 32million Chinese.
- Japan was the only country to use biological weapon during WWII.
- Over 300thousand people were massacred during its occupation of Nanking, the then Chinese capital. Mass graves have been uncovered till this day, some graves containing only the remains of children.

If you want to teach the Chinese the value of self-criticism, here is some homework for your country and yourself. Demolishing the Yasukuni shrine would be a good start.

To Mr Hutcheon:
Please, on your next blog, enlighten us on how you will run China and handle the Olympics if given the opportunity - so we can deride your mediocrity (just another prejudiced Western journalist with limited insight).

We accept criticisms, but we are able to distinguish between the valid ones and your epicaricacy.

perer

August 17, 2008

11:09 PM

and

Fake: people are not actually flying
Fake: Li Ning the torch bearer is not actually flying around the roof.
Fake: the olympic ring is not actually made by millions of stars, and its not actually hovering either
Fake: the earth is not real!!!!

what else? you name it

a real Chinese

August 17, 2008

10:17 PM

I just read all 272 comments. A old saying jumped into my head immediately---"The masses have sharp eyes".

I have to mention again, the Olympic ceremony was just a show, and it has gone already.

Take it easy, and enjoy the rest of the games.

To SMH (the Sydney Morning Herald):

There is a word constantly mentioned in Journalism : "CONSCIENCE"

To Stephen Hutcheon

If you do not want to win the Walkley Awards (the highest honor in print journalism in Australia), just be yourself, and concentrate on some small matters.

To Chris:

the Chinese old saying which you mentioned before "it's no way to find treasure like ivory in a dog's mouth"
is a bit rude to some people. However, in this case, I completely agree.

To China:

The 29th Olympic opening ceremony was one of the best ceremonies I have ever seen. Well done!

OverseasHunk

August 17, 2008

10:07 PM

Compare the 3 - Sydney, Athens and Beijing Olympics.

Wow Beijing sure get a lot of bad rep. from the journalists. "Fake audience", is that nitpicking?

Sure freedom of speech is good but how accurate is most of them? I'd say 9 out of 10 of these bashing are founded upon the evil within or prejudice. I've met Aussies who talk bad about China because of what they see on TV and most never left Australia/visited China.

You bashers should get an Olympic gold medal because you bashed the best compared to the previous 2 Olympics.

maarie

August 17, 2008

09:41 PM

get over it! China is doing a gr8 job on the olympics and it's about time the rest of the world stopped going 4 gold on whingeing, especially my fellow Aussies ;) don't forget that china is still a developing economy with hundreds of millions of people living on the wrong side of the poverty line. The advances they have made are fantastic and here in oz, we are very much the beneficiaries of the boost they have given to the world economy . So how about showing a little grace.

Adel Tan

August 17, 2008

08:59 PM

To elecon,

I am a westernised Chinese who has lived in Australia many years and I am quite good at laughing at myself. I know that many Chinese lack a sense of humour and I can only hope that improve.

But there are serious errors in your reasonings.

1) "The media's attack is racist."
If Japan didn't have much to hide and no western media attack Tokyo/Sapporo/Nagano Olympics, then you cannot pretend that you Japanese are a humorous bunch in the face of negative media criticism.

2)"Don't mix politics and sports"
Having children in cultural dresses are NOT mixing politics and sport.
That was a beautiful presentation. I love to see beautiful costumes, by the way. There is no "consequence" to deal with as such.
I am sure Japan would not parade Japanese children in dresses of minorities because Japan likes to think it is a homogeneous culture, right?
In fact there could have been unthinkable "consequences" politically if such parade took place in Japan Olympics.

3)"Don't pretend you're concered about China when all you want is belittle us"
What does this statement have to do with eviction of Chinese people from their home?
I think you are missing your point completely.

BTW, I'm not so sure typical Japs are humorous people, judging by the level of Japanese atrocities during WW2. I known that's many years ago and Japan would like the world to forget, am I right?

Yes, I do hope you maintain your sense of humour after reading this...

Dai Liar Lama

August 17, 2008

08:44 PM

"To Wendy", don't be too silly that people will treat you the same way you treat them. I have similar thinking when I was young. After working in 5 countries in the world, I would say that it's all depended (on culture and education). People are most friendly in HKG, Long Beach (next to LA) and London (more civilized I think). Brazil and Sydney are the worst. Not comment too much about Brazil today but for Sydney, SMH, bloggers like sian, TW and Zhou (quite sure he is a hypocrisy after reading post with his limited knowledge of China) have shown you the standard. Other than them, Australia also have Pauline Hanson, Alan Jones, Kevin Andrew, John (Coward), and journalists like Jacquelin Magney. Don't believe that Australia is a good place with fair good. It is absolutely an illusion. Certainly, China has a lot of problems (e.g. narrow the wealth gap, handle the history of 1989 Tiananmen square, the Dai Liar Lama) and it has a long way to go, but your leaders have managed them well. You have an execellent opening ceremony with excellent results so far. Wow, more than 30 golds now. Enjoy the game and forget those sour grapes on this blog. I can't wait to watch the table tennis, probably another sour grape to those bloggers like TW (to them, I am another blogger brain washed by China even I never live there before).

elecon

August 17, 2008

07:41 PM

I have some friends of Chinese descent, one of whom was born here, and I'm amazed that ALL of them are incredibly sensitive about this whole thing.

Olympics is a big event to which the world pays attention, attention China asked for by hosting it. When peculiar things happen, the world talks about it. Simple as that. Here are a couple of counter arguments I'd like to make against some earlier comments:

1) "The media's attack is racist."
I'm Japanese- an Asian like the Chinese. Did the western media attack Tokyo/ Sapporo/ Nagano Olympics? No. Japan didn't have much to hide from the world I suppose. In fact the Japanese people made fun of how bad the Nagano opening ceremony was- Yes, laughing at themselves. If you could do that, too (LIKE THIS SATIRE- But no, of course you don't get it)!

2)"Don't mix politics and sports"
Nobody asked the organiser to include highly political segment in which minority groups performed at the opening ceremony. Nobody asked them fake it, either. When you bring attention to something, you deal with the consequences.

3)"Don't pretend you're concered about China when all you want is belittle us"

When I hear and see things like how some Chinese people are forced to vacate their house and if they resist they're removed by force... I can't help but feel for those people. I can't fabricate how I feel.

-----
It'd be great if you could debate without acting like a picked-on victim and instead think about why so many people "in the west" are concerned.

Dave

August 17, 2008

07:21 PM

To Bob:
At least John Farnham, Olivia Newton-John and Nikki Webster lip-sync on their own voices, not others. Right?

Bob

August 17, 2008

06:09 PM

John Farnham and Olivia Newton-John fake-sang the entire opening ceremony, and so did Nikki Webster, while the entire Symphony fake-played.

I did tech - I know.

To Wendy

August 17, 2008

06:00 PM

To blogger Wendy,

1) Polluted skies? When China has put an effort to minimize its pollution problems, how did the foreign media comment on this? They said : "FAKE BLUE SKY" OOH it's FAKE when the sky is actually blue! Ridiculous! Even the skies aren't as polluted as before, you will still try anything to criticise China, isn't?

2)Restricted media reporting -- You might be right, this is a problem. But restricted media reporting is not worse than abusing the freedom of speech, hurting and slandering other countries, and blinding the people from seeing the truth!!

3)Assaulting journalists and protesters --- Is there any difference when foreign media are insulting China and in turn, stepping on China's dignity by producing many false reports about Olympics? It is also an assault, isn't?

4) Cheer squads masquerading as the public -- Common' be level-headed!! No one there is trying to pretend as an audience! They are truly cheer squads as you are already told! And have you watched ch7? One of the Oz gold medallist said that the cheer squads have given her a great courage and make her felt confident to face the competition!

You have tried hard to compare Sydney and China in order to show how shit China is. You can be arrogant. But please don't try to show your nobility by depreciating others, alright? Especially when chinese people always show appreciation at Sydney's Olympics and never say anything bad about it. Chinese people have respect, you should either, Wendy.

shameonu

August 17, 2008

05:56 PM

Pat San, could you show me some satire works of Sydney 2000? I am eager to have a look.

"to prevent sly capitalists from writing columns appearing to praise the government but actually criticising it ?
", capitalist or communist...Come on, jump out of Cold War, you're living in the 21st centry! China has opened their country, can you just open your mind?

The ugly truth of the western media

August 17, 2008

05:21 PM

To Zhou:

You have said that "Your own internet, education system and media are tightly state controlled"

You have made a big big mistake, I come from HongKong, if you know, it is a place with freedom like Australia, I can freely access to anywhere i like. More more importantly, I am now having an exchange in Australia, that's the reason why i will be interested in reading Australian journalists' blog.

Before accusing me, please read my last comment more carefully, I am not saying every westerners are brainwashed, i am just saying "TW". Many Westerners are great and level-minded!! Bravo!!
Hence, don't sit on a chair when it does not actually belong to you. Because it turns out your entire writing is meaningless and this would be wasting your time to write it.

You have said that you have criticised this blog for the sake of China,Thanks!

I dont know where do you come from, Zhou? A chinese surname? I dont know. But what i am sure is that you have something wrong. In China, many chinese people like foreign stuff, they have an idea called "chuang wei zhu yi". They are not “heavily anti-western” as you have said. And you can know it when you realise no criticisms in China have arisen after Sydney's Olympics.

From what you have written, still I can see that you actually belittle China and think that the comments from chinese people are not creditable. What’s mean "Your own internet, education system and media are tightly state controlled"??

Please don’t pretend you are actually supporting China in order to persuade people that your accusations are creditable. (maybe you are actually the TW)
“Don't be a hypocrite.”

Lomo

August 17, 2008

05:03 PM

tw, absolutely agreed with you. poor quality people like you can still critize with their dirty mouths. that why your country has such kind of poor quality journalists. what the quality of their citizens like you can we expect when you guys only feed by rubbish written by the worst quality journalist in the world. yeah, you can call me another chinese nationalist or chinese agency wnatever you want.

Pat San

August 17, 2008

04:51 PM

This is all quite sad to read. No really. As numerous people have pointed out Stephen's blog is a joke, satire. Ridicule of western tabloid media posing as criticism of China. A fake beach ?? Come on. It may even be a jab at his own colleague, Magnay.

I am ignorant of Chinese culture. Yes, I'll admit it. But, can someone please tell me if Chinese literature, film and TV has a thing called satire, or did Mao ban it during the Cultural Revolution, to prevent sly capitalists from writing columns appearing to praise the government but actually criticising it ?

Mind you, some of the 'apparent' Australians didn't get it either, which is even sadder, because Australians used to be wonderful satirists, but now seem to have adopted American style telegraph the joke, smash you in the face with the humour.

I'm going to have a cold sake and watch some Olympic sport on TV. Maybe there's some womens wrestling on...

FZ

August 17, 2008

04:32 PM

Stephen Hutcheon
A piece of gutter journalism (if it can be called journalism at all!) you have cobbled together to justify your weekly pay cheque! Shame on you.

whatever

August 17, 2008

04:31 PM

To all the Chinese bloggers here, how can we get this post onto the anti-CNN website?

"Don't be too CNN" should have a local name - Don't be too SMH

Zhou

August 17, 2008

04:14 PM

"See the ugly truth of western media" wrote:

"See how the western media use their power, their "freedom of speech" to brainwash your throught. See how do they "show" you the "truth"."

If westerners are so brainwashed, why have most of us criticised this blog post, including me? You are Chinese and know full weel the reality of the Chinese blogosphere, where anti-western hatred rules and very few dare to disagree. Since the riots in Tibet it has become fashionable to bash the western media - because it was too painful to address the real issues in Tibet, and he Han/Tibetan issue, your masters turned it into an anti-western hate-fest.

What you fail to realise is that there is a wide variety of opion across multiple sources, and people are free to pick and choose what they want, and we are only too happy to give blog posts like this one harsh criticism if it deserves it, which it does.

Your own internet, education system and media are tightly state controlled, heavily anti-western and you know it. Don't be a hypocrite.

Gold, Gold, Gold.....

August 17, 2008

03:50 PM

Wendy

What fake stuff in the Sydney Olympics were the SMH were supposed to write about? I am sure Australians would be more concerned than anybody if the Aborigines involved in the Sydney olympics were not real. Are you suggesting they weren’t? What's idiotic here is your deperate attempt to defend the antics of a totalitarian regime.

The Sydney Olympics were conducted in an open, honest and friendly way in near perfect conditions where the clear majority of spectators were the general public. The same can not be said for Beijing. Polluted skies, restricted media reporting and access to venues, assaulting journalists and protesters, empty stadia, handpicked communist party officials and cheer squads masquerading as the public…… But they do things differently in China, don’t they. Only a few enjoy the freedoms we take for granted here in Oz.

Need more professionalism please

August 17, 2008

03:31 PM

To TW,

No, we don't have to be qualitfied to comment. However, as accredited reporters covering such an important event for a reputabe newspaper like SMH, you would expect more professionalism from Stephan.

testy relationship

August 17, 2008

03:26 PM

With irresponsible, unreasonable, and deceitful media, there is little wonder that relationship between the organiser and media becomes testy. This just does not help anybody, except to be seen as a way that the western world try to "put the yellow peril back to the place where they belong." The Chinese people are not stupid people to not realise what the inner thoughts of all these reporters are.

David - One Chinese Agent

August 17, 2008

03:19 PM

If this blog is just some sort of humour or joke, just be it.

But if anyone wants to relate it to Chinese democracy, human rights and Tibet issue. You are so over the line.

This is the time for the whole world to have a party, Chinese and its government put a great show for everyone to enjoy. You mean people still criticize the host nation for their minor imperfections.

I think this is a website dedicated to Beijing Olympics, don’t mix the sports with politics here. If you people want to bash China, you can create a site somewhere else. It might draw more Chinese Agents.

BTW, with over 80 heads of states kow-towing to Communist China in Beijing, do you think Chinese really cares about you people whining and weeping here?

They have much big goals in their eyes, e.g. buying out our BHP or Rio Tinto, or whole WA.

Another Chinese Agency

August 17, 2008

03:16 PM

You don't need to be qualified to critize other even though you are worse than them. yeah, you simply not qualified because your human right records is even worse and you people just cook stories in order to please your big brother. That is the quality of your people and so China can make all the achievements in last decade but not you. When China take over your big brother 20 years later, your sons and daughters will kiss their asS. i am sure i can see that day coming.

Re TW (See the ugly truth of western media)

August 17, 2008

03:06 PM

Thanks for admitting that you are not "qualified". Hope that you can grab some fundamental (TRUE) facts of the issues before you start critizising it. Of coz, it's no harm for you to critisize or report here, but this may appear that your criticism and comment don't have any quality.

oi oi ouch!!! and ouch again

August 17, 2008

02:57 PM

TW, have you ever been to China? have you ever lived there? or just read hatred blogs? Poverty is a human problem. It is a major problem for the Chinese from East to West, North to South. It is a problem here for oi oi ouch Aussie.

As I said before, the White government of Australia doesn't even have a shirt for the aboriginal! Their languages are gone. If you have the conscience or the gut to say then this is the topic you need to raise. Or are we too selfish or too busy in paying our mortgage week-in, week out?

At least, the Chinese have preserved the ethnic group languages and their customs. The Chinese would not allow the so-called irresponsible "freedom of speech" to pick on the minority. Have you ever followed debates on Chinese TV? Your voices can be heard as long as you are not bullshitting and create hatred. The Tibetan's life is far more better than their past slave status. It is the daLIE who has mixed politics with religion that of course doesn't work for any modern government. Hey, it doesn't work here in Australia.

"Luckily our voices can be heard?", right, but nothing can never be done!!!

See how the western media use their power, their "freedom of speech" to brainwash your throught. See how do they "show" you the "truth".

TW

August 17, 2008

02:15 PM

RACISM? Look at the minority groups in China and ask them how they've been treated if you have a chance. But I don't think they dare to tell the truth.

FAIR GO? Did the Chinese government give the majority of people who still live in abject poverty, especially in the inland countryside a fair go? Did they give Tibet a fair go?

Luckily our voices can be heard here. Sadly still lots of people even don't dare to speak up, because it would COST THEIR LIFE!

Jacquelin Magnay's articles

August 17, 2008

01:01 PM

When I looked at Stephen's blog once again ,I realise one thing --- It is Stephen's "colleague Jacqueline Magnay pulls it together today in a piece about the growing crediblity gap"

It is the journalist Jacquelin Magnay who has made up those photos.

"Jacquelin Magnay" an extremely sensitive name for me. As she has repeatedly given us some false information about the Beijing Olympics. In her article "Games give a false impression", she slandered China by accusing the Chinese Gov to hide the truth about Liu Yan's accident. She said that Liu Yan’s accident has been falsely watered down as a broken leg instead of paraplegic condition. This is not the truth. The fact is that Liu Yan's accident has already been widely reported by the Asian media and Zhen Yimou has visited Liu Yan and even written 4 inscriptions for her in order to encourage her. ( For more details, go to Jacquelin Magnay’s latest blog and I have written out the entire TRUTH in the comment column)

I have already written letter to the Age to complain about this article, no response yet. Still I am waiting for an explanation, and even, an apology from Jacquelin Magnay.

Just now, I have read a below with a title "Bin" and I have realised I am not the only one who have noticed Magnay’s false articles. The writer, who has written “Bin”, has pointed on a right spot. A reporter, who makes stuff up, does not qualified to be a reporter of Beijing Olympics!

After all, does “Games give a false impression” ? Or more correctly, “ Biased and unqualified reporters give a false impression” ?

sarah

August 17, 2008

12:38 PM

I don't see what's the big deal about the beach. There are no beaches in Beijing, so obviously they had to either bring some sand or create a whole new venue.
As for the children in minority costumes, there had been no pretence that they were minorities at all. It had been very publicised that these children come from Han backgrounds and are leading singers in a major choir. The fact that they are wearing minority costumes seems like a bit of a tacky afterthought to include all the ethnicities, but it's hardly a scandal.
And the sky really is blue when the cars are off the streets. It's not a fake blue, or a fake sky. This is just a bit of a stupid whiny comment, actually.

So really, the accusation about nitpicking really can't be faulted. Perhaps the lip-synching girl was just a materialistic move blinded by the search fro 'perfection', and maybe some criticism needs to be made on its part. However, that's no reason to whine and complain about supposed faults because you can't find anything that's really wrong.

wendy

August 17, 2008

12:38 PM

It's not just about China. If this was written about any other country it would still be offensive and not funny. I wonder why the SMH didn't write about all the fake stuff that were in the Sydney Olympics. How would Australian feel if people complained that we didn't use all REAL Aboriginal people in the opening ceremony?? Oh, and since there are plenty of greens in Australia why we have to use Fake grass in some venues.

It's simply idiotic. When did the reporting of the Olympics resort to such trivial stuff?

Gkwan

August 17, 2008

12:14 PM

Glad that you have taken the "FAKE Chinese" photo off from your blog. Isn't that you finally realise that photois an affront to Spanish people and chineses? But when will you realise that all the photos above are breaching chinese and Australians' relationship??

Aodaliya_Ren

August 17, 2008

12:05 PM

The "Fake Minorities" article is a complete shame, just remember Sydney Olympic -- aboriginal dancers were not all Aboriginals, too. Regarding the phrase "Russian minority are clearly distinguishable by their fair skin and fair hair" -- ah what a ridiculous piece of racism, being an ethnic Russian myself, I can assure you there are plenty of dark-haired, red-haired and even completely hairless Russians, and even more so in the Russian Diaspora in China, due to mixed marriages etc. I applaud to the Chinese for recognising all the National Minorities as part of the Big Nation, I can’t remember a parade of Native American tribes or Australian Aboriginal tribes in their respective Olympiads.

PC PING TANNY

August 17, 2008

12:01 PM

Stephen,

Lin Miaoke was not a fake singer. She is capable of singing and I believe she actually sang the tune during the opening ceremony, not lip-synced.

Although it was not her voice that was broadcasted, it does not diminish what was doubtless an excellent opening ceremony.

I bet whether it was the voice of Lin Miaoke or Yang Peiyi wouldn't have made a difference to almost everyone, me included.

Instead of just one happy girl, now there are two happy girls - Lin Miaoke who visually presented and Yang Peiyi who vocally presented. That's not bad, is it?

Stephen, Learn to give credits where they are due.

"Journalists" like you are damaging relationship between China and the West.

"Journalists" like you are actually harming human-rights & democracy movement in China, directly or indirectly. Hang your head in shame.

By the way... John Stewart's comedy TV show suggests that China uses under-aged gymnastic girls. I am sure many athletes would cheat in order to win, if they can get away with it. But guess what? This is not China's problem, it is IOC's problem. It is IOC that must carry out policing to ensure integrity in Olympics games.

You stooped very low to include John Stewart's comedy as part of your journal piece.

Paula

August 17, 2008

11:17 AM

The reason the Chinese Communist Party tried to micro-manage every single detail around the Olympics is because they can't afford to have the world see how things really are there.

They shipped out thousands of poverty-stricken migrant workers and petitioners from Beijing in case they might talk to the foreign media about how there is no justice for people like them under the totalitarian regime.

It's true that there is no free speech in China, which according to Reporters Without Borders is the biggest jailer of journalists in the world.

Human rights don't exist there, with the result that Party officials can take people's land to sell for factories -- or for Olympics venues -- offering little if any compensation. Lawyers who try to defend these unfortunate people are put under house arrest or jailed.

China has a massive labour camp system called the laogai. Anyone can be sent to the laogai for anything without any legal process. Inside those prisons, many of which can look like hotels on the outside but are sheer hell-holes on the inside, inmates are tortured with electric batons and brainwashed among other abuses.

In these prisons are AIDS activists, human rights lawyers, Christians, dissidents, Muslims, the Falun Gong -- people who simply would be free to do their thing in a democracy.

By far the most heinous thing of all is that takes place in China is illicit the harvesting of Falun Gong practitioners' organs which are sold to wealthy transplant tourists for big money. These prisoners of conscience are treated just like any other commodity to be traded.

In order to discover the true nature of the elite group that runs China, people should read "Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party." It's a real eye-opener.

Bin

August 17, 2008

11:11 AM

Shame on those so-called news reporters! In the past, I supposed the Western media could be fair to tell people the truth, but I more and more realise it is so hypocritical and just like to create tension between different people to a certain extent.

Not to mention so many examples, how did they exaggerate the Chinese affairs, let me tell you guys something who cannot read Chinese. I remembered very clearly and even complained to The Age, that the journalist Jacquelin Magnay midled the Aussie readers, but there is no any reply from The Age at all.

She said there were some protests and conflicts between the foreign journalist and Chinese police in China during the Olympic Games, and there was no media report in Chinese language in mainland China. It is totally wrong! I can show you the link of ewery report in Chinese.

I wonder how can a journalist who cannot speak Chinese and can report the truth of China. I do not know if such a kind of journalist is qualified to crtitise China.

J

August 17, 2008

11:08 AM

Get over it China.

If you want to be the next superpower, expect your every move to be scrutinised.

It is called accountability.

You can't expect only to be praised for your achievements (and there is much praise out there if you care to look), and sweep all your flaws under the carpet.

One lesson the Chinese can learn from the "imperialist" Americans is the ability to self-critisize. Some of the harshest critics of the USA are the Americans themselves. The same can't be said of China.

Aodaliya_Ren

August 17, 2008

11:04 AM

...and a fake journalist -- Stephen Hutcheon.

2cents worth

August 17, 2008

11:01 AM

Stephen,

First of all, I like to clarify that I'm not a chinese national. If you check my ip, you'll see that I'm from Sydney.

The difference is, in the case of China, the organiser has voluntarily disclose this fact to the world, whereas in the west you have to dig out the truth.

If the organiser is really out there to deceive the world, as many of you allege, why do they voluntarily disclose this fact?

It is obvious to me that they only reason the organiser did this is like they said, they try to give everyone the most enjoyable time possible. Good intention, but backfired strategy.

Next, the so called faked firework. Again, please be reasonable. They did not deceive the world, else why did they voluntarily disclose this fact? They have spent so much money on this Olympic, so any reasonable person would realise that it does not make sense to try to produce cheap fake fire work. They did this for safety reason. Also, please bear in mind that the firework actually took place. It was only the filming of it that was digitised. Nothing fake about this.

As for the rest, I think it is not necessary to comment because Stephen I think you're just trying to be humorous although the Chinese do not see it as such.

If you think only the Chinese are sensitive to such post, read the linked article to find out the even the American can take offence.

unixrules

August 17, 2008

10:48 AM

Amazing. Looks like the Chinese don't understand satire or comedy. What a pity? 1 billion people strong and they can't laugh at themselves.

I do hope the majority of posters are Aussies, but looks not, looks like a sweat shop in China is turning out comments..... but let me explain to you guys.... One of the major gifts we have is the ability to laugh at ourselves...

shameonu

August 17, 2008

10:26 AM

Quote from I Know "I have a lot of disagreements with the Chinese policies myself. And that is one of the reasons I chose to come to Australia (Sometimes feeling to be in exile). "

It seems that "you don't know" - only in Shanghai, there are about 2,000 Australians living there!!! A happy communism life, ahh?

Disillusioned

August 17, 2008

09:52 AM

I also subscribe to this theory about the fake Olympics. These games lack credibility through the blatant commercialism and the aura of mutant drug taking freaks. Marion Jones will forever epitomise the win at all costs attitude of countries like the USA, Russia, China, Nth Korea and Greece. Even Phelps achievements must be questioned as he comes from a country with an established record of systematic doping. On top of that I also doubt Australia is totally clean either.

Ban Le Amar

August 17, 2008

09:52 AM

I support Ben Omar's view that China should not be given a fair go because it didn't give fair go to its people. Look at Australia, when our soldiers drown refugees, when we locked them up in the detention centers, when Howard sent our troops to Middle East in order to please our big brother, when Kevin Andrew locked up Dr.Haneef and deployed him with a fake accuse, are they fair go ? Look at our big brother, when they send 3 Mexicans to death sentences in Taxes just 2-3 weeks ago, if those professional journalists like John Taylor have the guts to report it ? Do we have the guts to say NO to our big brother ? In spite of these poor human right records, we still talking about "fair go" because it is our invention. Only our big brothers and those whose kiss its ass like a lot of Aussie in this blog has the copyright of it. Those whose challange our big brother like CHINA and RUSSIAN, piss off, fair go is not yours, it's ours.

ChinaRise

August 17, 2008

09:40 AM

Westerners want to win by hook or crook, when they are loosing big time to China and Asian nations they have started their old propoganda of nitpicking and disparaging China. Sydney Olympics was as fake as Chinese but nobody mentioned the fake things there like a) Fake Crowds, lot of events the crowds were pumped in by the organisers. b) Fake Grass, the brown grass on the equestrian ground was sprayed with green paint. c)Fake Real Australians who are Aboriginal people, not Europeans. d) Cover ups to the glitch in organising events etc.

The Aussies cricketers are big time losers 'crybabies' when they lost to India 20 Twenty World Cup 2007 in South Africa and again they lost the commonwealth Tri-series in Feb-March 2008, they indulged in mudslinging and unfair means and even come up with the false accusations. Aussie umpire like 'Daryl Hair' was suspended for unfair and racist conduct against teams from Sub-continent.

sick of media beat ups

August 17, 2008

09:29 AM

To John Taylor of Correspondence Reports: So you ask the organisors 1000 times the same questions that they have given you the same reply 999 times. You don't like their reply so you ask same questions again and again hoping they tell you something different so that you can finally create some "news" to fill the empty pages.

The Olympics is obviously a great opportunity for second class journalists to look for media beat ups. Wait till its all over and all you lot will rush back to real news like paris hilton and co ...

I am an Aussie living in China and I am not impressed by the obvious bias reporting by the likes of you so far, so I guess that makes me immediate target of simpletons - yes, I am paid by the communist to flood this blog whenever my view disagrees with your.

Journalists just don't get it

August 17, 2008

09:03 AM

Little people with little minds just don't get it. Jon Stewart's segment does not nail "it". It nails everyone, including jounos like you who love this self righteous indignation, holier than thou attitude which frankly just shows your ignorance and prejudice. Most of the fakes you mention have been done at the previous games. Fake supporters in the stands, lip synching, fake beaches. The security threat is real (think about Xinjiang, Atlanta, Munich). The fireworks were real, just too dangerous to film live in a helicopter.
But there were no fake minorities at previous games, mainly because they are usually not featured at all. There were a few token aboriginals at the Sydney 2000 Opening Whitewash, but what about the rest?
Oh yes, you can't fake blue skies. But you can fake journalism.

Karmicman

August 17, 2008

08:49 AM

Welcome to the new millenium where everybody likes and believes in effects. The term 'fake' is wrongly used in the media. Look at Hollywood, we marvel at their people and effects, are they not fake? Look at politicians, we marvel at their pretencious demeanour, are they for real? People or countries angling on the view that China is faking on the Olympics when its delivering the biggest show ever (and done so perfectly) to the globe is really showing to have the 'red eye syndrom'. The ones that can rightly claim China is 'faking' it are certainly not the western countries where effects are simply part of their daily life and is an accepted means to generate excitment in life. Get over it, all of you.

joanne

August 17, 2008

08:33 AM

Why can’t you just enjoy the game and big party if the host nation put up their best effort to show their hospitality to the whole world?

It sounds so childish to me that one constantly picks what does not sound or look right.

Imagine if you go to visit someone's home and the host does her best to decorate her home to welcome you. If you are so picky on what material she uses, whether real or not, you must be simple a bitch and not worth to invite.

Vince

August 17, 2008

08:21 AM

Those reporters are a shame to this nation. Is it too hurtful to admit that the Chinese have put on the greatest show on earth so far? The opening and closing of the olympics ceremonies are shows above all. Can you please report some real news for once?

shameonu

August 17, 2008

08:00 AM

Before I came to Australia, one of my friend told me "Australia will become one of the states of USA." I thought it was just a joke. However, look at our media, look at our 'professional' jouralists, they are pure followers of American media. Is it funky to kiss the American's ass?

shameonu

August 17, 2008

07:55 AM

Before I came to Australia, one of my friend told me "Australia will become one of the states of USA." I thought it was just a joke. However, look at our media, look at our 'professional' jouralists, they are pure followers of American media. Is it funky to kiss the American's ass?

In a press conference the other day Mr Wang sat uncomfortably as the International Olympic Committee spokeswoman was repeatedly asked if the IOC was now embarrassed to have given the games to China.

Mr Wang came to his country's defence in a lengthy spiel. When the journalist wanted to question his comments, the official momentarily lost it.

"This is not a debate," Mr Wang snapped. "You have your turn, I have mine".

Being answerable to somebody else can be tough.

This is John Taylor in Beijing for Correspondents Report.

Thoughts 2

August 17, 2008

07:42 AM

the many. Friends and family come before the public. It creates distrust, anger, and danger.

But these truths can't be acknowledged, and must be hidden. China is striving to be a harmonious society, officials say. It is peaceful and non-threatening to the world.

But when does putting on your best face cross over to be just faking it? Is it faking it to have a little girl mime to another child's singing, because the Opening Ceremony needs a very pretty child? What about inserting computer graphics of fireworks into the live televised Opening Ceremony?

It wasn't faking it to the authorities that organised the Opening Ceremony. It didn't matter that it wasn't real: it looked better, and it fooled people, so great!

On the day the Olympics began, there was a carnival atmosphere outside the main Olympic precinct. Thousands of people spontaneously flocked to the area. The fences were strong and kept them out, but they actually didn't want to go in: they wanted to share their Olympic anticipation.

But China's Government fears unscheduled, unorganised mass gatherings of people. As I was among them, asking them how they felt, steadily the police numbers mounted and the barricades went up, until everyone was ushered out.

I was across the road from my office, but I wasn't allowed to go back the way I had come. Instead I ended up walking for about 20 minutes, then catching a cab.

I was angry for myself and upset for the Chinese I'd just met. Where was the harm? Why couldn't they stay?

It's easy to be defeated by these things, or worse, come to accept them as being "just how things are done." But visiting journalists haven't had time, and are

I know

August 17, 2008

07:42 AM

Some of you are saying that we would not be able to have independent thought (or freedom of expression) in China. Not untrue in certain aspects, depending on how you at it. If your Chinese is good enough, go to www.tianya.com to find out for yourself that people are free to voice their concerns there.

And I suppose you are suggesting that we have freedom of expression here in Australia. Then why are you trying to "shut us up"? Is this some kind of "brainwashing" of your own because you just want us to swallow the stuff you tell us and don't want to hear an opposing opinion? Aren’t we allowed to express an opinion? Why are you so offended that we are able to express our opinion on a piece of article that that we consider to have no credibility, since the so-called "fakes" are in fact not "discovered", as Stephen claims, but actually announced to the public in general. And the reasons are justifiable. Are we supposed to believe everything we are told (spoon-fed) by Western media without our own reasoning?

How absurd that you insist that China has no freedom of speech while at the same time, rejecting people to express their own opinions in Australia?

I have a lot of disagreements with the Chinese policies myself. And that is one of the reasons I chose to come to Australia (Sometimes feeling to be in exile). However when it comes to something like this, it feels as if I am having an argument with my mom and someone else comes up and slaps her face. And what do you expect in return?

I am not paid by CCP. You are more than welcome to check my IP address anytime.

Thoughts

August 17, 2008

07:38 AM

This is worth repasting in full. Something the posters here should hopefully care to read:

China struggles mixing fun with sport

Correspondents Report - Sunday, 17 August , 2008

Reporter: John Taylor

ELIZABETH JACKSON: A week has now passed for China's Olympic Games. It seems that the Communist nation is having some trouble mixing sport with fun, especially when it comes to allowing the ordinary Chinese public to revel in the Games.

John Taylor was the ABC's China correspondent between 2002 and 2006, and has returned to report on the Olympics for Correspondents Report.

JOHN TAYLOR: So the Games have begun, and as always, there have been triumphs and stumbles, the inspired and the petulant. And that's just among the media.

Welcome to the no-fun Games, the dirty Games, the repressive Olympics, the One Party party. You could go on and on like that.

China has invested billions of dollars in this international set piece to show the world it's back, and to be reckoned with. But it's not going as the Communist officials planned.

The weather has been all over the place. The pro-Tibetan protests have kept on coming. The venues aren't full. And the joy that was so evident on the streets of Sydney eight years ago just isn't here.

It's not that they haven't tried. I reckon the authorities have tried as hard as they can to make sure Beijing looks and is as good as it can. But I don't think the officials get it because of who and what they are: unelected, and unaccountable, except to each other.

They can't be honest, because they believe the public is to be feared, not embraced. Power is vested in the few, not

Lori

August 17, 2008

07:31 AM

Every country fakes the environment, cleans up and tries to make things look good. Another word for it: Hospitality! Thank you China for hosting the games and doing a great job! Fake fireworks or not, it was still the most amazing opening night I have ever seen.

Wendy Lewinski

August 17, 2008

06:28 AM

SHUT UP about negative things in Beijing and China. Australians are there as guests - accept the positive and good things that the Chinese Government are offering - and there is lots of that - I've seen it myself. Australians do not have any right to criticise other countries when even worse things are happening here with our human rights issues with refugees, our invasion of other countries (Afghanistan, etc), and the list goes on. Look in your own backyard first.

clox

August 17, 2008

06:07 AM

who cares, the sport is awesome, y'all just bitching about nothing..as usual

Gold, Gold, Gold.....

August 17, 2008

05:37 AM

Clearly the Firewall of China is a fake as well. It seems the Chinese Communist Party cheer squad has unfettered access to this blog whilst pretending to be locals. Pollution, Human Rights abuses, Tibet, Falun Gung etc..... It's all just a western media beat up.

Why can't we get off the Chinese leadership's backs and let them do what they do best, oppress a quarter of the world's population? And while we are at it congratulate rather than condemn Russian Peacekeepers in Georgia for a change.

Regardless of whether I am right or wrong at least I can post my comments. Because I am not in China.

bronte

August 17, 2008

05:24 AM

The fascist games! Just like the games they gave the Nazis in the 30s. The Chinese are fascists and are politically despicible. They should be getting sanctions not the Olympics. This is the worst Olympics since the Nazis.

They got it because of money. This isn't the phony games it's the simply the fascist games.

Luke

August 17, 2008

02:40 AM

Ever wondered WHY there are so many pro-China people on this blog backing China and supporting the Olympics? No, it is NOT because these people are deployed by the Chinese Government (as some of you shallow people may think). The real reason is because there are many of us out there who've simply had ENOUGH of the media's unrelenting criticisms of every little thing that China has done wrong, and showing no sign of any support or appreciation towards the positive achievements that China has clearly shown whilst hosting the Games. This kind of bias is indeed quite ridiculous in the eyes of anyone with a rational mind. OK, we all agree that China has done something that's unacceptable by substituting a girl with another girl during the Opening Ceremony, but by blowing this issue out of proportion and creating story after story highlighting other ridiculous 'fake' situations is absolutely outrageous. I believe that with every criticism that is reported, there is every need to also appreciate and acknowledge the positive side of things so that the overall story is both balanced and unbiased. Some of you may argue that this Olympics has turned into a farce, but I reckon that the one-sided reporting by the media has proved to be the TRUE farce of the Games.

loafer

August 17, 2008

02:37 AM

Does anyone else see how silly it is to compare fake anything related to politics to the actual olympic games? The olympics is a sporting event. It doesn't decide who will run a country or who a country will go to war with. And as it was already mentioned this post is obviously not seriously ridiculing China.

Josh

August 17, 2008

01:26 AM

I m a Chinese boy whom was living in Melbourne for 7 years. Be frankly, from OZ local media network, can you confident to say there was NO any FAKE coverage about China? Take a look at CNN, BBC, how many FAKE story they made for Tibet issue during the torch relay? For such a big opening event, we need PERFECT moment for everyone around the world, please be fair, my foreign friends, those FAKE u guy picked were really nothing to do with the Grand Opening. 2008 OPENS was, is and will be remarkable!

Cheers Mate!

Dragon

August 16, 2008

11:55 PM

Stephen;

Look at the bigger picture, whatever these flaws you mentioned might be, the Beijing Summer Olympic Games is still a spectacular success. After all, noibody is perfect.

Don't look for insigficant flaws in a huge event such as the Olympic Games. There were so much effort put into it to make it a memorable event for every one.

It is only a poor reflection on yourself for simply unable to appreciate of all the beautiful and certainly awesome display of the Chinese culture. The Beijing Summer Olympic Games has been a 99.99999% sucess so far...

Fake singer? (Big deal.)
Fake beach? (Standard facilities.)
Fake threat? (I thought we were concerned our atheletes wouldn't be safe?)
And fake BLUE SKY? That doesn't even make sense! If it's blue, then they succeeded in clearing the air a bit, didin't they???? Isn't that what we wanted?

Much to the disappointment of the western media, the Chinese have run a fantastic olympics so far. Give credit where it's due.

Johan

August 16, 2008

11:35 PM

What is wrong with having a dig at the Chinese?

They had better get used to it if they want to be the next superpower, as like the USA, China will be blamed for everything!

At least the white anglo-saxon male can take a well earned rest!

Get real China and take the rough with the smooth.

haha

August 16, 2008

11:35 PM

Funny though about the fake fake fake lol..............

I am chinese i can understand, Why China is doing that, because they are host. China doesnt want to lose pride to the world. It is important to potray a good image to the world.

Anyway leave China alone : )

THe blogger is trying to unfold everything makes thing even funny.

who cares?

August 16, 2008

11:33 PM

I want to talk about our human rights issue. Why do people worry about someone else's problems when it's infinitely easier to worry about our own?

1) why do we drown refugees? (2001)
2) why do we cage refugees, when Australia is wealthy enough to protect them?
3) why do we discriminate against Asians?, Middle easterns? Aboriginals? Africans?
4) what does the sorry mean, if nothing is done to amend the situation...is that a 'fake' sorry?

So, shouldn't we be spending our Olympic money and time watching the games instead on dealing with those above issues?

dep'sgirl

August 16, 2008

11:27 PM

I have been in the US for the past three months (God bless it) and believe me, China has no monopoly on "fake".

Some recent examples (and I will confine myself to political ones, because they have the greatest rammifications):
1.A "fake" interview conducted on one of the three major networks with presidential candidate, John McCain, that was edited when he made a humiliating mistake so as to make it appear he is not the blithering, senile, war-mongering fool he is.

2. The constant, right-wing corporate media bias against Democratic hopeful, Barack Obama while perpetuating the "fake" story that there is a "left-wing" bias in the press.

3. The "swift-boats for truth" campaign at the last election, that turned Democratic candidate and genunine war hero John Kerry into a coward, while the real coward, who managed through family connections to avoid his Vietnam war service, went on to another four years in the White House.

4. The "fake" election results from Florida in the 2000 election, that saw Bush steal the White House from Al Gore in the first place.

5. And the biggest "fake" story ever? The weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, that so far has cost more than 4000 American lives and the deaths of well over 600,000 Iraquis.

And then there are the more trivial ones, like the fake women walking down the boulevardes of Beverly Hills, with their fake boobs, fake lips, fake faces and fake god knows what else.

China is a COMMUNIST country. What did we expect? Like Moscow in 1980, the Beijing games were designed to present China in the best light possible.
At least with China,you expect this sort of deception.

Anonymous

August 16, 2008

11:21 PM

The way some are talking on here, they'd be happy for Australian journalists to be gagged too!

It's the media limitations, and the fact that none of the stories mentioned here were reported in China, which should be embarrassing for China. China had hoped to fool the world in the same way they dupe their own citizens with State censored news. They have failed. And this is something we should be very happy about.

And those suggesting that no one should complain about China because "Australia and America aren't perfect" sound like they have swallowed the Party line. Those complaining about Australia here should remember they wouldn't be able to do the same thing if they lived in China!!

gerson

August 16, 2008

11:02 PM

Well if this blog is placed on "Chaser War on everything" i do find it very funny, in fact i would be LMAO with Jon Steward video because i expected to be less serious.

But on a blog for a professional newspaper with a big fat title "FAKE WALL OF CHINA"...

I don't find it offensive, but rather sensitive!! If you know what i mean guys?

Jason

August 16, 2008

10:53 PM

I am Chinese,I don't know why western people alwawy comment China rising is not a good thing.I know western friend doesn't like Communist Party,so am I.They are autarchy but strong.So what?
We just common people,we are not the politician,we just live a country of antiquity.Western friend,Chinese people not offend you.

DJT

August 16, 2008

10:46 PM

It is only reasonable to expect some window-dressing at any international event.

It is thus disturbing to see the West donning a 'holier-than-thou' attitude towards China. Many a tyranny and injustice peppering the history of the developed world seem conveniently forgotten.

Each society evolves at different rates and along different paths; influenced in part by the current generation, but largely prescribed by our predecessors. We should be grateful for the fortune of living in a developed society where many humanistic ideals are upheld. Abusing this undeserved privelege is therefore morally reprehensible.

While the West has 'arrived' according to our own measure, we have yet to understand the importance of being encouraging to other peoples who are just getting started.

Until we fix our issues with Aborigines, stop detaining and deporting wrongly, invade other Sovereign nations illegally and stop having the highest pollution per capita, it is hard to preach to other nations.

I love Australia but I hate Aussies taking cheap shots and being hypocritical.

Max Beaaty

August 16, 2008

10:26 PM

It is quite depressing the sheer number of people too thick to understand that Stephen is joking here. Come on guys, he even put a video at the end which directly mocks the nitpicking that is going on.

Surprise, or not quite

August 16, 2008

10:20 PM

I'm not the first to point it out, but there is a lot of pro-China comments here. I wonder how many of them are real. Just maybe, they might be fake too! Just part of the Chinese propaganda machine. Now that would be something wouldn't it?

Seriously though, I think some people who have posted on this website need to live in a country like China to understand why such things ARE an issue. In themselves, the media's highlighting of the fake fireworks, singing etc seem petty, but they are symtomatic of the need for China to project an image of perfection.

Again, that in itself isn't new - remember the story from the ABC about how the homeless people were cleared from the streets during World Youth Day so the pilgrims wouldn't see them? That's also something that should be reported.

But I think there's a danger here that people are too willing to gloss over the political, social and economic situation in China. What's wrong with asking questions? What's wrong with pointing out flaws? Whether they be questions about Australians, Americans, Spanish and Chinese, they have to be asked. We shouldn't just pretend that no problems exist, or that we should never be curious about anything. Now, THAT would be dangerous.

To all posters: think, instead of just posting vitriol comments about journos like you always do. And did anyone bother watching the Jon Stewart clip to see the lighter side of things?

rayguns

August 16, 2008

10:12 PM

FAKE BEACH??!! Give me a break. I would have thought this just came under the heading of providing the right facilities.

Come on guys, I know you're desperate to find something to complain about, but really...

Of course you do have to find something to fill those useless column inches.

peter

August 16, 2008

10:10 PM

Steve, try to lighten up and enjoy the games. China is doing a great job of entertaining the world. For goodness sake relax and enjoy it - you sound like you have a cactus up your rear.

gerson

August 16, 2008

10:07 PM

Stephen mate, I agree with some of the photos e.g fake singer, fake firework and fake spectators. This does spoil a fantastic night of work they had put in but I think at the same time you had written a blog open to your own criticism, because you are amplifying little problem such as fake sand, fake blue sky and fake minorities.

Considering you are a pro-journalist, where is Beijing located? No where near Sand so having a specially design stadium is not really an issue. For fake blue sky, of coz its a GOOD idea, otherwise you'll be choking yourself while writing this blog. Lastly for the minorities, for a culture with 5000 years old you really expected they have all the minorities exist? The point is a show demonstrating that 5000 years of history the Chinese do have indigeneous culture. I'm sure they find people base on documented evidence instead of actual people. I actually accept that!!

No offence mate, i'll be more happy if you have the courage to write some info on human right than writing insignificant piece of article like this!!! As i RESPECT other human beings!!

Nick

August 16, 2008

10:04 PM

Whether you like it or not, China is rising.

Foreign reporters tend to present China in a narrow and biased way. They are affected by 3 things ... ignorance, jealousy and fear.

i love sydney

August 16, 2008

10:03 PM

just want to tell you guys a secret. why we can report these minor fakes in such an organized manner ? because we did the same (fake grass, fake actors, fake sky, fake traffic condition, fake journalist, fake souvenior, fake human right, fake democracy, etc etc) in sydney olympic games 2000, even though in term of technology applied, we are about least 10 years behide china.

graeme

August 16, 2008

09:56 PM

I agree, give the Chinese a fair go. Seriously ,trying to maintain an economy with 1.5 billion people must be pretty difficult. We all tell our children little white lies from time to time and IM sure thats all the government it doing. Australia can't even control a few unions who are led by un educated leaders who think making a lot of noise actually means that you have a clue...sorry noise doesnt mean knowledge.
China is slowly drip feeding the information so that things move slowly and in the right direction. Do we
really want 1.5 billion unhappy people.
One stupid Paul Keating gives me a head ache. He was clueless and nearly destroyed Australia but still believes he is important ? Crawl in a hole Paul !

Gaz

August 16, 2008

09:53 PM

I love reading the comments of people who get so upset about political correctness, and how we should give China a fair go.

Ive been in China for 5 years now, and I have commented many times in the past (before any of this Olympic hysteria) that China is a fake country. Everything here is fake. From the political processes designed to keep officials in check, all the way down to the construction of their buildings. Looks good on the outside, but no substance. Everything is done 'for now' and nothing is ever done for any reason other than 'face'.

Anyone who doesn't agree with that simply has not been in China long enough or is too ashamed to admit it.

JUST A FAKE DOCTOR PRACTICE IN SYDNEY

August 16, 2008

09:50 PM

HEY, PLEASE GIVE CHINESE A FAIR GO, THEIR CURRENT GOVERNMENT HAS 84% APPROVAL RATE (THE HIGHEST IN THE WORLD), THEY HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB TO FEED THE 1.3 BILLION POPULATION, AND BY THE WAY, HAVE YOU HEARD ANY CHINESE CRITICISING THE STUFF UP WITH THE LIGHTING OF THE TORCH AT THE SYDNEY 2000 OPENING, AND WHY SMH DOES NOT EVEN MENTION ABOUT THAT MECHANICAL FAILURE WHICH COVER UP BY CATAHY FREEMAN'S FAKINESS WHILE STANDING THERE WAITING FOR 60 SECS??????
SO ARE YOU AN ETHICALLY SOUND JOURNALIST OR JUST A BLOODY FAKE??????????

Stephen can't be a racist, can he

August 16, 2008

09:48 PM

Yeah Stephen, Good job on finding those FAKE photos and spending hours on circling them instead of spending time with your children if you have any. I like the FAKE beach the best, shame on the Chinese for putting in enormous efforts in transporting quality sand from a costal city to Beijing. Shocking!!How dare them making a fake beach for the beach volleyball game!!Surely there are international treaties against playing Olympic Beach Volleyball on a FAKE beach. That should be your next task, finding out what these rules are and publish an article on it since it is obvious that you have nothing better to do with your life. People like you repulses me, not just the looks, but also your ultra racist, negative attitude. Yeah, Shame on the Chinese for using all of their resources to put on the best show for the rest of the world, shame on them for wanting to prove it to the world that they are not always losers!!!because according to your expertise in chinese politics, history and culture they clearly are losers, and deserves to be laughed at .right?
Just to be fair, make sure you send a letter to Luciano Pavarotti's grave and express your anger towards him since he also FAKED his way through his final public performance at the opening of the Turin Winter Olympics in 2006.

of Sydney

August 16, 2008

09:43 PM

Despite all that cash flowing into it, Beijing '08 is a disappointment to the PRC.

Perhaps it would have been better to have invested it on its population, and started developing its per capita.

P.S. I might point out that propaganda isn't exclusive to China (i.e. Western media ownership)

Ben Omar

August 16, 2008

09:42 PM

People who posted about fair go~!, did China ever accepted fair go for its people? What about Tibet, Uighur, North Korean refugees, Darfur, Burma, Falungong, Taiwan independence, religion, free-press etc.. China never given fair go for others so why should we give China a fair go just because of Olympic game.

Look people, this fakes are true even Chinese govt have admitted. Just accept the criticisms and try to change stubborn Chinese Govt for once.

Charlie

August 16, 2008

09:40 PM

It is very obvious that this Stephen little man failed his job as the China correspondent and now taking a revenge...I challenge you to take this up to your Prime Minister and convince him that China is so fake that Australia should not deal with them...Dont just write craps online!!! Do something bigger...but then again..Stephen: you are just a little online man...

heyu

August 16, 2008

09:38 PM

steve, if u never tell a lie then go ahead with ur nit-picks...

Fake?

August 16, 2008

09:31 PM

Wow the chinese goverment took cars off the city streets and factories for the Olympics. Good on em. better than stupid Earth hour in sydney turning off the lights and proclaiming they are doing so much for the environment.
Imagine they took off all the cars in Sydney for one day. The economy and entire system will be stopped. Its amazing how much power the government has on the Chinese people.

Sydney Press

August 16, 2008

09:30 PM

Some of the Western journalists have displayed disgraceful behaviour; been naive in their cynicism and become a touch racist in their reporting. It's one thing to question, probe or highlight the differences between the Games in China and other Games - but to continually seek negative stories and carry on as though they've forgotten they're in a Communist country is just dumb. Did they think they were going to a democratic country? We all know and accept, as did the IOC, that China is a different place that most Westerners don't understand. It belies good sense to think the Chinese owe anyone an explanation when we are hosts in their country for 2 weeks. Leave the political bickering till afterwards - unless you want to sell newspapers on Fleet Street ofcourse. We all know that controversy sells and the British journo who kept harrassing the IOC about 'being embarrased' has just embarrassed himself and his fellow journos. Thanks mate.

mark

August 16, 2008

09:28 PM

To those who think all the pro-China bloggers are the agents of Chinese government. It's really laughable if you have that thought. Because I don't think the Chinese government has any interest in lobbying a regional newspaper somewhere in the world. You have over-valued yourself. If you think most pro-Chinese bloggers are Chinese students living in Australia, maybe you are right. However, why those Chinese students who have been educated in Australia and freely acccessed to any information from various sources have such a different opinion about China to what was told in western media? You can't simply say they are all brainwashed, or if so, it only means that you are already brainwashed by those malicious news and rumours and have lost the fundamental sense of judgement.

For a just world...

August 16, 2008

09:28 PM

It will take China and the Han Chinese people to stop referring to past Chinese history about how great is was...and to justify itself and its actions around the world.

I wonder why the Italians and the Greeks don't make such a big fuss about their won history?

China and Chinese people should stop living in the past....

AKKI

August 16, 2008

09:24 PM

1 ) REGARDING THE FAKE FIREWORKS

If it was done in some "Western" country then people will applaud and say that "Wow!! What advanced technology they are using!! Bravo!! Techies!"

BUT WHEN ITS DONE BY AN ASIAN NATION....PEOPLE SAY THAT ITS FAKE!!

LEARN TO APPRECIATE PEOPLE!! NO ONE WAS ABLE TO DETECT THE GRAPHICAL FIREWORKS ON LIVE TELEVISION. GIVE SOME CREDIT....IT TAKES SOME DOING, CONFIDENCE IN THE TECHNOLOGY YOU HAVE AND COURAGE TO EXPERIMENT WITH SOMETHING LIKE THIS ON LIVE TELEVISION..LET ALONE OLYMPICS!

2) REGARDING EMPTY SEATS

I WOULD ASK THE JOURNALIST TO COUNT THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE ATTENDING THE GAMES AND NOT LOOK AT THE EMPTY STANDS!! THERE ARE MORE PEOPLE ATTENDING THE GAMES THEN THE POPULATION OF AUSTRALIA!!!!!!! USE SOME COMMON SENSE...IT IS BETTER TO HAVE HALF FILLED STADIUM OF CAPACITY 50000 THEN TO HAVE FILLED STADIUM OF BARELY 10000 THAT WE HAVE IN AUSTRALIA!!!!

INCREDIBLY ONE SIDED ARTICLE....DID NOT EXPECT THIS AT SMH!!

John

August 16, 2008

09:22 PM

Attack China all you want but just have a look at everything around you and what you are wearing..THEY ARE ALL MADE IN CHINA!!! Why do you have them, because they are competitive and you are CHEAP...IF you are so critical about CHINA...then stop using China products and start purchasing Australian made or European made products...but hang on a second...you can not afford them...so JUST SHUT UP!!!

Zidane

August 16, 2008

09:19 PM

C'mon Steve!!!You're just a silly and ignorant man. Australia has had their chance in showcasing to the world their olympic games and venue.It's a once in a century opportunity so to speak, so every country is entitled to spend as much as they want to please the world.At the end of the day, every viewer,spectator around the world was blown away by the visual effects and asthetically apealling array of innovative technology on display.In fact there is no comparison as these Beijing games have set a new benchmark and have simply surpass any levels held by previous countries.Let's enjoy the games and appreciate all the effort the Chinese have put in to make this a successful event in history.

Fair and just world...

August 16, 2008

09:19 PM

Think of human rights...
Think of the minorities suffering and discriminated in regions where China claims to be its own...
Think of Tibet and the systematic ethnic cleansing by the Chinese....And it is now being accepted by many Chinese around the world...
Think of the discrimination of its own Han people by China...
Think of the many Chinese around the world supporting what China is doing..including the same Chinese people that escaped the Tianemen Square Massacre...It is disappointing...
Until China wakes up and realises that not everything is its own and that other non Chinese people need to be accepted as they are, countries around the world should be aware of what China does.
In the end China does not stand up for justice nor human rights...Note that it is the main supporter of the Mugabe regime...and many other kleptocracies and oligarchies around the world...Beware of China...as it will in the end claim the whole world to be it's own...Sooner or later China's arrogance will be its own downfall...

Chinese govt tainting blogs

August 16, 2008

09:16 PM

It amazes me to see how far the Chinese government will go to attempt to manipulate a message the public receives. Even blogs are being tainted on various websites, including this one, The Age.

I am an Australian (born, bred and not last name Wang), currently residing overseas in a Chinese "state". I see the message in the media corrupted everyday. It is sad to see a country whose pride revolves around respect acting so adolescent.

I feel for the journalists who are indeed asking lots of questions, but getting the cold shoulder. I say, keep asking lots of questions ... that is your job anyway.

Unfortunately, from my experience in business over here, it was expected.

sfx

August 16, 2008

09:15 PM

This is just bordering on racism. I didn't hear similar comments about the treatment of Aborigines from Chinese when we held the Olympics.

Let's just focus on sports.

andrew of sydney

August 16, 2008

09:13 PM

I'm reading alot of butt kissing on this board. why is it that everytime something negative is said about china there is a flood of people coming to their defence with the lamest reasons.
It's a known FACT that the chinese governement love to monitor and destort public views on their communist nation.

mick

August 16, 2008

09:09 PM

You can't blame China for all the fakery. The whole Five Ring Circus is a charade of drugs, go-faster swimsuits and sponsorships. China is just putting on an Olympics with Chinese characteristics.

Pete

August 16, 2008

09:08 PM

Come on people,
To all those who took this seriously: It is satire. It's sending up all the people who are making a big deal out of these small issues. If the "fake beach", "fake blue sky" etc. didn't give it away, then watch the Daily Show clip. AS HUTCHEON STATES, John Stewart nails it.

Maurice

August 16, 2008

09:07 PM

So, Down with sh, "Chinese people are happy" - like those frightened people in Tibet a few months ago, or the people that dare to criticise their government and end up in jail? I don't think they are very happy. Wake up, please. I am not anti-China or anti-Chinese. I am against the brutality of China's government. Please understand this.

tenpem

August 16, 2008

09:04 PM

At the Sydney Olympic closing ceremony Midnight Oil performed with the word "Sorry" printed all over their outfits. One word but it carried a potent protest about the then government’s stance on indigenous issues. It’s unknown if anyone from the Howard Politburo tried to stop them but if they did then they were obviously ignored.

Outcome: none of the band were detained or disappeared and one has since entered parliament.

What would be the likelihood of anyone involved in the opening or closing ceremony in Beijing being able to appear with the words “Free Tibet” or “Remember the victims of Tiananmen Square” or “Release Hu Jia” on their outfits?

The Olympics are about politics – the sport is just a sideshow.

corry

August 16, 2008

08:52 PM

Interesting that there was a similar debate on the BBC olympics blog that also exposed a little Chinese sensitivity with regards criticism, however mild.

Someone please remind future Olympic cities never to invite the Aussie media to the games. Unless they want their party to be pooped on with absolute bullsh*t!

Peter the Fisherman

August 16, 2008

08:49 PM

How about this my good friends,,,FAIR DINKUM is a Chinese expression faked by Aussies. In Cantonese Chinese Gin Kum means real gold. It was much used in the gold fields

fakefake

August 16, 2008

08:47 PM

Why couldn't I see my comment just posted? what a fake website.

fakedfool

August 16, 2008

08:40 PM

There were fake aboriginals performers at Syndey’s Opening ceremony. Shall we criticise Australia?

Justice League

August 16, 2008

08:40 PM

Come on, give China a fair go, they did some very good stuff, give them a bit of credit. Don't fall down the trap of some people who always like to make China look bad because of some propaganda.

Warcraft

August 16, 2008

08:36 PM

What's in your mind?? you must live a rather sad life and must be some self important rightuous useless backward being who cannot accept other's success. I think the Olympic ceremony is quite memorable despite the fakeness you refer to. Try and see the big picture! and it is a new world order..where everyone is equal. But for you keep living in your little narrow world for no one cares... The Chinese will learn and improve and that's why they are growing and others are not.

Jay

August 16, 2008

08:33 PM

C'mon guys...This is entertainment and the Chinese have done their best. Lets give them their credit. WELL DONE CHINA. YOU SHOULD BE REALLY PROUD.

Canberra

August 16, 2008

08:32 PM

Well, nothing much to report on Australia's achievement this time. Our gold medal tally is so poor. Therefore you have to divert people's attention to something else. Come on.

Mal

August 16, 2008

08:21 PM

I had really hoped these Olympics would have changed my mind about China, shown me another side, shown the heart and spirit of the people. But it all feels so fake. So heartless.

Sydney had humour and spirit which perfectly reflected our country, Athens had history and heart which well reflected their country...China had to TRAIN it's own people how to cheer?! There is no feeling, no love of competition, no glory in a narrow defeat. It all seems so clinical, so measured and so fake. It seems as plastic as the McDonalds toys they create.

China has been given all the opportunity in the world to make this a cooperative success, to make this a celebration of their long history and deep culture but instead it's turned into a farce where attempted control of information has overshadowed the sport and the spirit.

I feel insulted that China thinks the rest of the world is this stupid. Did they really expect us to fall for this? Did they really think Western media would swallow this "information" without their own first hand research?

If China had just shown us the truth we would have embraced it, warts and all. We just don't take well being continually lied to because it insults our collective intelligence.

mute

August 16, 2008

08:19 PM

Nothing to say, I only see jealousy and bias

Frank

August 16, 2008

08:12 PM

Stephen Hutcheon - Please do your job properly and try to focus something of real concerns to the rest of the world or Australia. If you don't have any topic in mind, tell Australia about the coal export tax will be increased from 25% to 40% in China from 20 August 2008 and the potential impact to the local economy. At least,this will draw the attention of some CEOs. Use your brain if you still have any. Coward !

TW

August 16, 2008

08:11 PM

Don't be too surprised. This is just to give the world some ideas of what the "REAL CHINA" looks like, and the meaning of "ONE WORLD ONE DREAM". Oh, don't forget there is also "CYBER ARMY" censoring & targeting!

sick of aussie media negativity

August 16, 2008

08:11 PM

Another sour grape showing its ugly face. The Chinese have spent billions and countless hours to put on a great show for all of us to see and enjoy...and its all free on TV! Happy to say that I've enjoyed every moment of competition shown so far. Fantastic to see all human race come together and perform their best at a world stage. Go the human race. P*ss-off the Aussie media! If you can't take the heat of Beijing, get out of the city.

wildkatOz

August 16, 2008

08:10 PM

Ha ha don't take any of this stuff seriously, John Stewarts video was hilarious. but on the other hand have a look at the comments made about Sydney's efforts back in 2000, There is always some-one that has a reason to complain about something. I do remember some complaints about fake Kangaroos riding bikes? LOL

Realist

August 16, 2008

08:05 PM

Even the comments are being faked!

Simon

August 16, 2008

08:05 PM

Is China's hosting of the Olympics getting a fair rap?

ofcourse not!

BlackF

August 16, 2008

08:04 PM

Amazing ... how many of the comments on this blog from real people?

One of the things about a FREE society is that it can accept criticism from within and from external sources.

I guess we are seeing how a society that is indoctrinated and brain washed into believing that their "government" is doing everything in their power to help their citizens react to scrutiny.

My observation would be that they are not really taking the criticism very well judging by some of the comments.

I imagine that not many "real" Chinese citizens will see the blog instead we will continue to read the reactive and fanatical comments from Chinese special propaganda agents as they try to justify their Governments actions.

By the way most of the top leaders and their families will make a huge amount of money out of the Olympics and the booming economy. Perhaps if the "Government" spent a large fraction of their surplus helping the citizens who live in poverty and hunger I might have a health respect for the country. But I don't hold out much hope that the greedy and corrupt officials will do anything to help their desperate citizens except employ more special propaganda agents to continue the public relations campaign.

Reflect on this fanatical and crazed propaganda agents.

jq

August 16, 2008

08:04 PM

It's really funny that some people actually think we are paid by the CCP. I wish! (so I can pay off my mortgage.) And why would you think that the CCP would care what you (western people) think if they block this website in China anyway so people cannot view it? What's your logic? I just don't get it.

And why are there so many angry comments? Let me tell you why. It's like someone has just spit into the throat. That's why.

Surely there must be some kind of governing body that deals with fake journalism.

Shocked

August 16, 2008

08:04 PM

Like Voltaire, I'm pretty shocked at the clear hijacking of this blog by Chinese nationalists. Top work guys - that'll change world opinion. BTW the press is just doing their job. Anyoe who is interested would have read some very decent stuff on the sporting exploits of Phelps et al. For anyone genuinely bitching about negative articles, which I suspect are very few, the next time some paper exposes corruption in governments in Australia or dodgy doctors in the health system, you better ignore that as well - it being "negative" and all.

shut up and cheer for australia

August 16, 2008

08:03 PM

who cares!!!!!!!
You really ARE nit-picking!!!!!

china bashing

August 16, 2008

08:00 PM

Come on Stephen hutcheon and get your facts right - the items about fireworks and the real girl that was singing were all announced by organisor themselves. They were not "discovered" as stated in the article.

Now at least I am certain I should stop reading trash written by fake editors and reporters. Totally un-Australian!

Phildo

August 16, 2008

07:56 PM

Great blog Steve. Unfortunately, above all, the responses seem to show's people's distrust of journalists. They apparently expect the world's foreign media to turn up, worship the feet of the hosts and feel grateful for being there. For all the idiots having a go for journalists "nit picking", perhaps you would rather have the Chinese system where everything is forbidden and swept under the carpet? Surely sensible readers will take all the pro China, anti freedom of speech comments with the grain of salt they deserve.

What!

August 16, 2008

07:50 PM

Talk about ripped off! I paid good money to go and watch stuff at the 2000 Olympics!!! Maybe us dumb fat aussies should have not bought tickets and got bussed in for free! It really is not a good look to see the empty seats at so many events. C'mon IT people, can't you generate a decent fake crowd like the fake fireworks, to go along with the fake cute kid/minorities ??? And the whole "we're not having press conferences because you ask questions that matter" position is deplorable. To the Chinese - if you don't want to answer questions about human rights problems, don't squish human rights, or at least have the guts to back up your actions. Explain your actions in Tibet and Darfur - we really want to understand - saying nothing doesn't help us to understand anything other than you don't want to acknowledge it and hope it all goes away. How can we see the whole truth if you don't tell your "side" of it??? We can therefore only judge on what else we see and have reported from other multiple sources. I am sure that as in every other country in the world, you have decent people and you have others - unfortunately the spotlight of the Olympics is shining a little too brightly on the dark side because of the heavy-handedness.

when sydney had the olympics chinese reporters didn't come here and talk about how they use to ship convicts here not long ago or pauline hanson representing a chunk of australian populations. they talked about the olympics.

Think about it.

rz

August 16, 2008

07:40 PM

While i think incidents such as the fake singer was a poor choice made by the chinese govt, criticizing the "fake sand" and "fake blue sky" is taking it too far. I agree with many of the past comments which have pointed out that the chinese simply want to produce the best games they possibly can, as i'm sure any country would.
To The Economist: great call.

Marcus

August 16, 2008

07:39 PM

The blog goes too far, to the point of mocking China. Regardless of the Chinese tendency to "window dress" (very much a part of their culture), we have to show them respect. I know it's frustrating. I am in Beijing and a lot of stuff is being tightly controlled, and there are plenty of lies and half-truths being pushed. It's frustrating from a western point of view, as we have a "tell it like it is" mentality. But it's not going to kill us.
Yes, the Olympics have been totally hijacked by political and economic interests, within and beyond China. There will need to be some soul-searching after these games. China has used them as an extension of domestic and foreign policy objectives to a degree not seen before. That’s where the control, the constant spin, comes in. Is this right? Will all future Olympics be like this?
Sadly, all this reflects upon a worldwide phenomenon, the dominance of an increasingly authoritarian capitalism. China and the west are partners in this, but if we are not careful, the things we value the most will be lost as China's power grows. Human rights and freedom of information are not just political slogans, but essential values upon which human futures must be built. This concept has lost a great deal of credibility in the George Bush/Howard years. We in the west have betrayed our own founding values. We are now in a position where we stand as hypocrites to criticise China or anyone else on such issues. Bush's recent criticisms of China and Russia are simply an embarrassment to the western world, and to human civilisation.
The Olympics are occurring within these contexts. Let's lay off China and have a good hard

HC

August 16, 2008

07:38 PM

I find it ironic that some anti-chinese posters think that the Chinese government, in all its calculated evil can find time to flood a petty blog such as this with "propaganda" but doesn't have the resources to fake a few gymnasts' IDs properly.

You guys really lap up the anti-chinese views that are fed to you. You believe wholely that China is the axis of evil. Yet you ridicule Chinese people for being blind. Haha!

Do you know the difference between you lot and everyone else? You guys are the ones that laugh at others while your own countries are being raped and plundered. Look at what we do to East Timor. If Australia is such a holy place why do Aborigines still have such short life expectancies?

If you think China is so backward and third world then what does that make your treatment of Aborigines when their life expectancies are worse then that of Chinese?

You want to seem smart and knowledgeable by pointing out the fallacies of the Chinese "state machine" yet never pause to analyse your own. The Cultural Revolution pales in comparison to our treatment of the Aborigines.

econ2

August 16, 2008

07:36 PM

yeh i agree with the economist! I dont see the fuss with some of the fakes? didnt they tell us it was fake? well we had ours faked in 2000 when nikki webster mimed the words, so wat? it was stil a good peformance, thts all i cared abiut..

Island Boy

August 16, 2008

07:31 PM

I am an Australian and I am tired of people picking on the Chinese about everything. People should focus on the nations coming together for the games and celebrate the sport and let the Chinese be proud of their games. I think these hypocrites getting up on their soap box about these issues should look to clean up their own backyards before they criticise the Chinese. Australia, like many other western countries, has no glorious history in many respects either... It annoys me to read the continuous attacks on the Chinese in this paper in relation to the games.

Lydia

August 16, 2008

07:27 PM

Hi Stephen,I don't want to change your way to look at China, because you didn't understand China at all.That is why you write this blog and think it is truth.
Maybe China's sky is not as blue as Sydney's, but All peolple in Beijing tried their best to make a blue sky for you, not because they want to cheat you, THEY just try their best to welcome you to their home!
Yes, there is no beach in Beijing, but they move best sand from 2000km to build most comfortable venue for you,NOT because they want to CHEAT you,they just want to provide you best venue to achieve your Olympic goales.
......
If all these in your eyes are just a Fake, I am really sorry for you. You don't understand this Country,you don't understand these people and you are FAKE friendly guest from Australia.

Two Views 2

August 16, 2008

07:20 PM

Oh, further to my previous posting.
I am, too, suprised that this made it onto the SMH website. I have been a continuous fan of the SMH. A little dissapointing.

dylan

August 16, 2008

07:16 PM

Mr Hutcheon does himself no credit with this disgraceful blog which only goes to show that there is considerable truth in allegations that the Western media are out to sabotage the Games. Those who patronisingly dismiss pro-China bloggers as Chinese government agents are sadly mistaken. Many of us are overseas Chinese with no links to the PRC government and have access to the same media as you do - in fact, I am not even a Chinese citizen nor do I read on Xinhua at all. I think there is a faint whiff of racism in some of these views - a culturally arrogant view that Chinese people are unable to think for themselves

Both views

August 16, 2008

07:12 PM

I am torn after reading all the comments posted today. I am of Chinese heritage, but have grown up in Australia from a time where there were hardly any asians/orientals living here. I cannot read or write chinese but am still very much aware of my background.
At first I was extremely aggitated at Stephen's comments. In part, I am still. Probably like most of the world, I am dissappointed with China using graphically generated images of the footprint fireworks, and also the lipsyncing for the singing because the original singer was 'not cute enough'. Growing up with a chinese heritage, I understand about 'face' and having perfection. However, I also agree that it would have been partially unfeasible for a helicoptor to be flying whilst fireworks were being launched into the air? So for China, this was a lose/lose situation. Neverthess, ashamed to be chinese after discovering the 'fakeness' of the two points reported above.

Now, this is were I have the say that SH has been racist/biased, or whatever you want to call this so call piece of suppose journalism.
1. Volleyball beach: of course they had to ship the sand in for the games. Where else was it suppose to originate from? hmmm?
2. I am proud that the Chinese sacrificed their comfort of travelling in a car etc for the comfort of their tourists. If it were us Sydney-siders, we would have been complaining about getting to work everyday. Heck, oh..I forgot. We already do, and there has been no sacrifice on our part already.

The list goes on.
Fair enough, there were some good points about faking the things that may not have been necessary. But it went too far, and crossed the line into racsim.

Peter Smith

August 16, 2008

07:06 PM

Cultural misunderstandings is the first step to war. And I can assure you you don't want China as an enemy as the only western power that is predicted to remain in 40 years time will be USA. UK/France/Germany/Australia etc will just be outback econommies for the Asians and Arabs to visit. Now for a reliable source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BRIC

Peter Smith

August 16, 2008

07:06 PM

Cultural misunderstandings is the first step to war. And I can assure you you don't want China as an enemy as the only western power that is predicted to remain in 40 years time will be USA. UK/France/Germany/Australia etc will just be outback econommies for the Asians and Arabs to visit. Now for a reliable source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BRIC

Non-Olympian

August 16, 2008

07:04 PM

I do not follow the Olympics,and have contributed ideas to some.An Australian dilemma many people face in other circumstances.I have more than a few objections to Olympics generally,and with this Olympics as far as I can tell all the exaggerated nonsenses are coming out again.Most of the world citizenry is capable of a competitive spirit either co-operatively or individualistically.It is a bad thing China has controlled the Chinese blogs,it is a good thing people defend their nation and its people,when they feel a sense of inconsistency,so the Chinese in Australia may in fact not suffer from inverted smug patriotism by having a go here and there.That doesn't mean I think comments here by Australians criticising the Events etc. are wrong.I meet individuals on that basis,the cameras only represent a small fraction of who people are.That will not replace my values,just crowd it out terribly so.Like those whom you may criticize here as an exercise in the practice of fairness.

Rob

August 16, 2008

06:59 PM

it is sickening to see this article. What is wrong with digitized fireworks? Isn't it more environmental friendly?

jimy327

August 16, 2008

06:55 PM

Just to add to the list of fake stuff that Sydney olympics had:

Fake efficient railway transport (never had trains running on or nearly on time ever again after that)

Fake kangaroos (the men on bikes pretending to be kangaroos)

Fake olympic girl (Nikki webster wasnt there out of olympic spirit; she was there because her parents and agent want to make a million bucks out of her)

ok...these are bad examples. But not as bad as yours.

Sarcc

August 16, 2008

06:51 PM

Well done, Mr. Stephen Hutcheon, you've found another bone inside the egg. I'm upset by such criticsm. During 2000 Sydney Olympic game, did we criticise how Australian treated aboriginal people, especially the Lost Generation problem? Although millions of Chinese are still living in poor situation, we're doing our best to present a wonderful party to all athletes from the world.
If you're holding a party then your guests keep finding fault in your house, keep saying your kids are not so cute etc.What do you think?
Pollution? That's funny. Can you guarantee there won't be any pullution if you have all commodity manufactured in Australia?
I don't need someone tell me that Chinese Communist Party is a shix because it is. But let me tell you, it's a good shix and you can't find another shix better than this.
If you don't like someone, whatever he does it'll be wrong. Your article is exactly like this.
I don't think I was brainwashed by CCP. Actually I used to often criticise this party and its government. But the more western media criticise them, the more I support them. Because for such a big country which has so huge population, we definitely need a strong and powerful government.
We long for and pursue democracy. I believe we'll have democracy similar to the Western. But we'll realize it in our own way instead of what you need me to do.

WN

August 16, 2008

06:49 PM

People who likes to criticise others most are the ones most jealous about others. Let's face it, which Chinese cares about if all those things are fake or not, China is on top the medal tally.

Beijing Aussie

August 16, 2008

06:44 PM

I'm so disappointed in your articles. Are you for real or fake? Your articles are primary school nit picking at it's worst. They don't mean a thing. A disgrace to journalism. Journalism has sunk to such a degree of lowliness this year. I'm ashamed to call you a fellow Australian. Get out of your room, do some real reporting on the Olympics and wake up to yourself.

R

August 16, 2008

06:44 PM

Greg- if you say that the communist government is controlling people how to think (i'm Australian born Chinese BTW)

Then now are you to prove that the media is not controlling people like you what to think?

Brad

August 16, 2008

06:41 PM

To the Chinese government bloggers on the quest to "Defend the Motherland" are you paid per blog or are you on a fixed salary? SMH should release statistics on the origins of posts in this Blog. I would dearly love to see what percentage of posts here come from Chinese Government IP domains.

joe smity

August 16, 2008

06:41 PM

clearly china is unable to deal with criticisms of any kind do you seriously think that seasoned free thinking jourmalists would swallow your safe and harmonious garbage....you are in a word unwordly

Adel Tan

August 16, 2008

06:41 PM

Stephen-Hutcheon,

I think you have overstepped the boundary of unbiased journalism.

First, I have not heard one athlete complaining about Beijing pollution level and refusing to compete, not one! Is it because a journalist like yourself failed to report the truth?

I am not implying Beijing is not polluted. Of course we know it is. But a blue sky is just that, a blue sky. A blue sky is not a fake sky. It cannot be a fake.

The fact that China does nearly everything she could to achieve a blue sky is a credit to China. But all you care is to paint this negatively.

Secondly, am I right that in your mind the welcoming of athletes and visitors by China is fake as well ??
Now, come-on, don't tell a lie. You do think that is fake, don't you?

I am sure this fakeness is a far more explosive discussion than whether a blue sky is fake or not.

If you fail to address my second point then I think you are (i) dishonestly fake and (ii) a coward.

I am waiting for your response...

SY

August 16, 2008

06:37 PM

Apart from the facts that China has been faking everything, has anyone considered the reason why China is faking it? Possibly for the entertainment and enjoyment of the rest of the world? Instead of picking out parts of the ceremony that were fake why don't we just enjoy the god damn Olympics? People these days are not thankful of the Olympics at all.
Instead of focusing on China's fake ceremony, why not pay attention to the REAL MEANING of the olympics?!?

Give the guy a break

August 16, 2008

06:35 PM

Are people seriously calling this a "sensationalist article" and "pure tabloid crap"??? For God's sake the bloke's barely expressing an opinion, he's bringing different indisputable facts together and presenting other people's opinions almost without comment. And if anyone can't pick up that he's trying to make it a slightly light-hearted piece (however well that goes down)then I seriously recommend retaking primary school english because my 11 year old son saw humour in this. The insanely overwhelming pro-china slant of the comments is so utterly ridiculous that it seriously seems that some chinese government department has the time to flood foreign blogs with pseudo-propaganda.

ad

August 16, 2008

06:28 PM

i hope i am not reading a fake page.

peter

August 16, 2008

06:25 PM

The biggest fake of all is the media - they just want hype. If there isnt any, they'll create it!

Some one

August 16, 2008

06:17 PM

Come on!!!! Stephen Hutcheon, this is just a show. Anyway your article makes me feel that you just simply don't expect anything good from China.
If you don't like China, why do you go there? What a fake man you really are!!!

Jinx

August 16, 2008

06:13 PM

Democracy? Communism? Give me a break. Their just terms that sound better. Wheres the democracy in US invading IRAQ on suspicions of Weapons of Mass Destruction, only to find nothing, make their country worse and take over their oil fields. It's all about money. This journalist probaly has a few thousand warrants shorting the Shanghai Stock Exchange. Bad news = good profits.

Dnzilla

August 16, 2008

06:10 PM

I think it is great that China's control over the event is loosening through all this new information.

Anything that stops the communist propaganda machine is a good idea.

Tiger

August 16, 2008

06:07 PM

How dare you? Stephen no body. Sour grapes. You are just jealous that the opening ceremony was just awesome and fantastic. Dare any country thereafter to do it better.
Full marks to China!.

doggie

August 16, 2008

06:06 PM

As an Aussie who has worked and lived in China, I can understand why the way China does things can upset a lot of people in the West. I think the Chinese are remarkably pragmatic - as long as the general gist or direction is OK, then everything else is discounted to some extent. Hence the dynamism of the country now and the stupendous developments over the past 20 years. Of course the ends do not justify the means in all situations but generally more people are better off than say 20 years ago under most criteria, and there is more freedom too. Historically, many othr nations have had its own "Tibet", its own oppressed minorities, polltution problems, exploitation of the weak in society and its own propoganda to fake whatever outcomes the powers that be desired. China will learn its own lessons from its own history/experience, and certainly do not need (unless requested) other contries with equally flawed histories to lecture it on how to "get it right". Anyone expatriate living in BJ and Shanghai will tell you how safe these cities are comapred to their home cities (yet the murder of some amreica whilst unfortunate was highlighted as if BJ is soooo unsafe!), so the Chinese must be doing something right.

dangdut

August 16, 2008

06:05 PM

I don't see anything faky about those photos. All these comments are silly and childish. China has done a wonderful job. I wonder why the western media are so against China. Have they been neglected and sidelined? Behaving like spoilt kids and bad loser because you cannot find fault with the chinese performance. China can keep scoring and the press can keep on writing bad reports. The world will keep on spinning. If the performance is faky what about a breast filled with silicone?

peter

August 16, 2008

05:59 PM

What is Fake? The West invented fake - China's problem was leaking the information, and anyway, its the result that counts, the end was a magnificnet spectacle that everyone enjoyed. The so called 'faked bits' were minor and unimportant. The Beijing sky is real, the voice over was real...they were not faked. Congrats Beijing in going to such extraordinary lengths to make the event extraordinary and memorable.

Aristos

August 16, 2008

05:53 PM

the chinese government must think the rest of the world is as stupid as they are

peter

August 16, 2008

05:52 PM

The media are nitpickers - digging for a blow up any way they can. They should learn some manners.

Observer

August 16, 2008

05:50 PM

It is a pretty low act to highlight the so called 'fake' elements of the olympic games. It exposes the ugly side of human nature and does not paint Australians in a good light.

I am not an Olympic fan but cannot help but notice that once in a while there will be some segments on T.V on the low points of China. It is bad journalism lacking any class and generosity of the human spririt.

Keep in mind that what the Chinese Communist Government does is not always a reflection of the Chinese people. I think the Chinese people have worked very hard to bring a good Olympic game to the world.

timjack

August 16, 2008

05:48 PM

To Mark and others,
Thats the point Mark, the Australian press and its readers, can have different points of view and it gets printed without fear, unlike China.

Windows

August 16, 2008

05:48 PM

Ceremony, apart from the speach, others are entertainment. It's a performance. Fake or not? doesn't really matter as long as you enjoy.

How many movies are true stories? think about it. Ugly media always tried to mislead the audiences. Damn!

Rick

August 16, 2008

05:48 PM

the chinese seem to learning all about a free press.

whatever, they can't possibly be "the best games ever" they've already been held.

Jess

August 16, 2008

05:47 PM

I think that the western world has always had the tendency to expect everyone to be like them - that China should, in the click of a finger, change its attitudes and behaviours to accomodate and align its views with western society's. Never mind its extrodinary (and long...) history, or the fact that China is still essentially a communist country. It seems very sad that such scrutiny as this article has come out, especially in Australia where I thought we had the 'friendliest' people, and especially in such an ill-spirit.
I belileve China only had the best intentions for welcoming the world into their otherwise private country.
(As for the fake beach.....your scrutiny was a joke right?)

wellwell

August 16, 2008

05:46 PM

It's interesting that most of the negative comments here about fake journalism would, in my best guess, come from countries where press freedom is censored, restricted and determined by a group of people who don't really care for freedoms.

No one can deny the rise of China, and that this century will be remembered as such (don't forget India a democratic society, is just as big as China), however for any country to be part of the global community, you must live by the generally agreed rules, which includes Human Rights, Freedom of Expression, Freedom of the Press and Freedom of Association, none of which China adhere too. Residents of China may think they have freedom, but the reality is very different, and that is exactly what the Communist Party of China want you to believe. Citizens of China, you are quite possibly living the biggest lie of them all.

Personally I think the press are being very sensitive to China, and if it wasn't for the fact that China is important to the global community and that China and the CCP are in a period of flux, they would simply tear the society apart and reveal the real China.

I congratulate the various news agencies of Australia on their excellent coverage of the issues facing chinese residents, and foreigners as well.

WELL DONE.

Cynic*

August 16, 2008

05:45 PM

We've finally cut away the skin of the Olympics to expose the seedy, political machinations of the hosts and the IOC. But I personally believe that reporting on such trivial matters simply distracts from more pressing humanitarian matters such as Tibet, censorship and democracy.

The time to act was 1971, when the UN withdrew recognition for the ROC (Taiwan) in favour of the communist, totalitarian PRC. Now, all we can do is quietly remind our Chinese friends of the Geneva Conventions.

fredo

August 16, 2008

05:41 PM

How about the fake JOURNALIST that wrote those articles?
Come'on Australia, give China a fair go!
Admitted that beijing olympic is the best, Sydney second.

ben

August 16, 2008

05:40 PM

In all honesty, who can be surprised that these Olympics are a sham. If Athens wasn't significant for it's timing, then China would have held them in 2004. They are the 2nd last untapped market for commercialisation behind Africa, just look at all the sponsors drooling for attention. Nonetheless we don't have to worry about China's corruption and propaganda. Food and energy will be China's biggest problem in the next century, and 1.5 billion hungry mouths will be a burden for any superpower.

The Economist

August 16, 2008

05:34 PM

It's easy to take cheap shots at the Chinese. We had our turn in 2000, so fair go.

Afterall, all it takes is for China to slow down quite a bit and stops buying our commodities in abundance for us to then realize Australia has a FAKE economy.

Greg

August 16, 2008

05:32 PM

If anyone needs proof of how the successful Chinese propaganda machine is one only needs to read the comments on this blogs. Sadly its quite humourous. Its such a pity how some people in this world can be so one eyed and blind. You know you do not need to have the government think for you. You CAN think for yourself? Either that or the chinese government is brimming with such boredom that they have to resort to flooding blogs simply because they do not agree. Keep up the good work Stephen. We are a democracy whether the Chinese like it or not.

Lazy

August 16, 2008

05:32 PM

C'mon Stephen
Surely if you're a former China correspondent you could put a bit more though and perspective into it!

from rice to riches

August 16, 2008

05:31 PM

To Stephen Hutcheon,
Your nitpicking attack has come to a new level. Well done!
Your sister Jane Hutcheon wrote a book named "from rice to riches", your next book can be named "from sweet n sour pork to sour grapes".
Need to remind you, you are reporting Olympic Games, NOT UN meeting. It's supposed to be a big party, forget about political bullxxxx. Imagine somebody invites you to his/her home, warmly welcomes you as a guest, has done lots of preparations, but guest ignores all of host's efforts, only talk about bad taste dish, rude or unfriendly host etc.
Uh, neally fogot to tell you. You know those people acted Chinese drama at opening ceromony, they are not from Tang Dynasty more than 1000 years ago, they all live in modern era and perhaps live in Wagga Wagga. It's another fake.
Comeon, put those photos onto yr blog.

hanson

August 16, 2008

05:27 PM

oh my god, I am reading a fake website.

Ben Omar

August 16, 2008

05:24 PM

Thanks for sharing, now the whole world really knows about how fake China is.
Do not be fooled by China again.

fake_firework_singing_questions

August 16, 2008

05:17 PM

Hey guys, I am a Chinese living in Australia. But I am asking a genuine question here - please don't get me wrong, I am not part of any hatred or political interests, I just want the answers to my questions:

1. Is it true that the Chinese government has confessed that some firework has been faked and computer generated?
2. Is it true that the Chinese government has confessed that the singing of the girl dressed in red was faked?
3. If both of the above are true, is this something every Chinese should feel shameful? Or proud of? Oh come on, get real and this question should be an easy one.

down with sh

August 16, 2008

05:14 PM

This is shocking, you and your fakeself should hang your head in shame.

I am tired of journalists like you constantly critcising the Beijing Olympics, like who are you to question it? Who really cares apart from yourself?

China is enjoying it, Chinese people are HAPPY, I can say that they live a way more happy life than you in terms of spirtuality.

Because of this I will switch my daily news source to other providers such as yahoo seven. Totally dissapointed at SMH to allow such a clown to post such a stupid blog.

DK

August 16, 2008

05:14 PM

What have you acheived? Stephen? Chinese will simply ingore your words and work harder to become the most powerful country of the world! You simple believe everything from China is fake and try to persude every Australian to feel the same way. The only reason is you couldn't accept the fact Chinese are able to acheive what they had done. You have created enough hatred/ misunderstanding among Australian people and that is the only thing you have acheived. Shame on you! Up yours!

Pat San

August 16, 2008

05:13 PM

Stephen, this has got to be satirical hasn't it ? A montage of tabloid style non-news masquerading as criticism of China, the intent being to criticise the nitpicking western media in a sarcastic manner. Lip syncing at an Olympics Opening Ceremony for goodness sakes ! How perfidious ! What next ?

I must admit that although I personally did not find the Spanish slant eyed gesture offensive, I suspect my wife would if a European did it in her direction, and she is not Chinese, she is Japanese.

Well, I've lived in Japan for many years, you could call me a 'Japan lover', but not an Orientalist. I have no fondness for many aspects of China, not least the outrageous nationalism displayed in the anti-Japanese riots of a couple of years ago. I do not belong to the brainwashed masses and I have no hidden reason for defending China.

A lot of people in the west (and in Japan) have been expecting, even hoping, that China would fail the test. I must confess to occasionally having such thoughts. But, as far as I can see, they have done a pretty good job.

Now, if there were major problems with organisation or the Chinese team was found to be cheating en masse or it was discovered that a baby panda died as a result of the Olympics, then THAT would be news.

Johnnyred

August 16, 2008

05:01 PM

What a bunch of sheep western media are.....baa baa baa. Haven't they noticed any of the distortions , fakery and sheer bull the Olympics are in any host city including Sideney.

who cares if they have embellished a little? it was a great performance. i'm sure they aren't the first to do this.

Get over it

August 16, 2008

04:56 PM

ok... seriously the fake beach one is just stupid... that's just saying summer olympics can only be held on the coasts. And with the fireworks (from Tiananmen Square to the Stadium),it was so obviously they were fake and digitally enhanced while watching the ceremony, it's better than watching a helicopter filming risk getting blasted by the fireworks. Get over it, the whole point of the ceremony was to entertain you and it did the job.

wangkexue

August 16, 2008

04:46 PM

u can't understand what art is.
u don't konw the efforts they had made
But we have seen it,the scene of try run
fake Mr. allknown stop

And all of those flowers planted down the median strips -- they weren't there before the Olympics and they weren't there afterwards. Fake flowers!

And all of those volunteers bussed in from around the country. Fake Sydneyites!

And we had fake crowds too. My sister got bussed in from her school to make up the crowd at a few unpopular events. The scandal of Beijing isn't the filling of the stands, it's the emptiness of the stands in the first place: the excessive allocations to corporates and the lack of genuine sales to the people of the host country.

Although you've got some good points about the big stuff, you're sounding shrill because of your nitpicking.

wangkexue

August 16, 2008

04:40 PM

What are your team doing on the internet?and what about the Youtube do about the object to NBC?terrible
Please research what the Greece Goverment do to their citizens during the 2004 olympic Games!

Kevin

August 16, 2008

04:38 PM

The foreign press is like a guest invited into someone's home and criticize the hosts for their parenting skills and furniture. Not good manners in anyone's definition.

Can we be sure some of the aboriginal dancers in the Sydney are 100% aboriginals? Probably not.

Think how much Sydney siders were whining having to put up with APEC and WYD? The Chinese people are willing to sacrifice their cars and factories for months for the events. And somehow that's a negative too.

So there was a film sequence with some special effects. Geez. Should we be outrage at ALL special effects? Let's face it, it was so well done and you lot were embarrassed to be fooled. If it was real you will probably complaint about helicopter safety.

Fake minorities? Woow? Actors in costumes. Haven't seen that before!

The city is miles in land. Of course you need to truck in sand for beach volley ball. I think it's fake in Atlanta too. And Athens. How come we let them off so easy?

Empty stands? It was pretty empty in Athens too. Remember the rowing in Athens? Hmmm...

All I see is a country bending over backwards to put in a good face for the rest of the world who have been treated as nothing short of honoured guests.

Stop taking every little thing and interpret it as some huge, vast secret conspiracy to deceive you and distort your puny little minds. You don't need help on that front. There is SMH.

Stop faking it

August 16, 2008

04:38 PM

What I can't understand is these people complaining about the truth. Nobody complained when people reported fake grass at the Olympics in Sydney. I saw it being laid with my own eyes and I would say so if I saw fake grass in Beijing too.

lee

August 16, 2008

04:38 PM

I don't understand why the press keeps pointing out all the negative things about the Beijing Olympics. When I saw the footprints at the opening ceremony, I thought they were amazing. Now that I know they were computer generated, I still think it was amazing. If it were done in Sydney 2000 or Athens 2004, nobody would have commented. Give China a fair go. They have kept up with the times and used computer graphics. So what? Also, the lipsynching? What about other performers around the world, have there not been well known popstars around the world lipsynching and faking it? Making mountains out of molehills. Why don't reporters focus on the positives, like athletes, the volunteers, the hard work of the locals to make the games safe?

Alex

August 16, 2008

04:33 PM

If you invite someone to your party and then they start to pick on you and your wife and your grandma and everything in your house, what would you do? I will probably grab a baseball bat and kick them out of the place and will never invite them EVER again. Just imagine how would we react back then in 2000 if the world press kept constantly writing stories about our treatment to the Aborigines for the last 200 years or the White Australia policy etc etc every single day, instead of celebrating the Sydney Olympics? Before we point the finger to China or indeed anyone else, we should look at ourselves first!

wangkexue

August 16, 2008

04:31 PM

the most stupid news I have ever seen.crazy as a bedbug

lebron720

August 16, 2008

04:30 PM

fake singer? fake microphone? who cares? guess what - that globe wasn't the real world either. do you need to be reminded that all the performers in the sydney olympics mimed in the opening ceremony? did you also believe that nikki webster was really flying? These occasions are supposed to be theatrical, celebrational and representational. the opening ceremony has been and gone. it's time to focus more on the sport and the athletes after all, thats what the games are really about.

China is stuck in a time warp where things like building big things and marching around like fascists is supposedly impressive. Anyone seen the North Korean Arirang Games before? That's even 'better' than the Beijing opening ceremony.

Roll on Beijing 1936, ah, 2008. woops.

None

August 16, 2008

04:29 PM

I've never seen someone so bitter. Get off your high-horse and give these guys a break. Yeah, so what if they've staged a few things.
I'm sure that many other events have shipped in sand for volleyball, or dressed up kids in varying costumes - heck I remember doing that in my school days.

Would you have preferred if they left cars on the road and factories belching out smoke? They've done this for the comfort and safety of their visitors - why are you bitching about this?

Can't you find any better topics to cover... Small things amuse small minds...

Bauluo

August 16, 2008

04:29 PM

All your petty nit-picking cannot change the fact that these are probably be the best Olympic Games held to date. Who can honestly deny the sheer magic of the opening ceremony and the quality of the venues? As a proud Australian expat, I can honestly say that Beijing has outdone Sydney, and there's no way the Poms will come anywhere close to matching the Chinese effort in 2012.

jonno

August 16, 2008

04:28 PM

Funny... noone even suggested that the kids were from the minority groups. They just said they were wearing the costumes of the minority groups. Are you saying that the blokes on horses in Sydney were actually from Snowy River, and so on?

Wally

August 16, 2008

04:26 PM

It's sad to see a journalist report propaganda like this. There are so much more untold inspirational stories to report about athletes determination and ambitions. Instead we prefer to bash about insignificant issues that play little part in the olympics. I guess we may aswell see the whole event as fake.

R

August 16, 2008

04:24 PM

NO biz like the show biz aye?

R

August 16, 2008

04:22 PM

Steve you are the man! no one else in the world have the time or the abilities to cover Olympic SPORTS in such great detail!

great work! you provided so much USEFUL info about the Olympic games and how the games are suppose to draw nations closer through SPORTS.

AUSTRALIA is PROUD of YOU!!!

Raj

August 16, 2008

04:22 PM

It is nation that is getting back on its feet. Congratulations to them.
At-least no fake history, no fake values of “Fair go”, At-least not a homophobic society, which operates on virtual segregation

Australians talk about Humans rights and ban demonstrations. I could find one Australian protesting for the Real Australians in Sydney Olympics. Where were their sentiments for hundreds years rape, dislocation, plunder(still going-on) and deep physiological trauma faced by hundreds of thousands ?
Why not a single Australian Journalist did complained Air quality in Atlanta?
How they would hold games in 1956 with WHITE-ONLY policies and never discuss it? Why China is such problem now?
Why didn’t a signal Australian Journalist talked about why HK went to England in first during the handover to China?
Why they ridicule China for Human Rights? How this modern colony did come in existence?

Only 1 Reason – The Dragon is getting on its feet and soon complaining lot will be at its feet.

Legitimate Poster

August 16, 2008

04:19 PM

It looks as though I am one of the few non pro-China posters here. The Chinese security apparatus seem to be doing their job well enough if the balance in this blog is any indication. Short story is that 'asian values', if that's what's being reflected in the rollout of the Bejing Olypics, do not match those of the west. Lies, hidden truths, communist style repression, grandiose statements and events rife with propaganda and non-human displays of 'happy China' do not fool anyone. If the state machine and its cronies here think you can hide that, you are sadly mistaken about the 'free'-thinkers here with an ounce of individualism and commonsense.

Let's hope China's rationale does not imfluence politics in the near term - Russia is enough at the minute.

Drosophila

August 16, 2008

04:18 PM

This "fake" bashing is hypocritical and ridiculous, coming from the our very own media where image is everything. What are PR, spin, advertising, "media liaison", and every other gimmick used in "the free world" to sell and present products to best advantage. Ever heard of air-brushing?

On top of all that, the Olympics is a show, for heaven's sake. A performance, a display, call it what you like. The athletes may be "real", if you're lucky and only because they can't get away with it - all random-tested and policed to the last drop of EPO.

Get real.

David - The Chinese Agent

August 16, 2008

04:15 PM

How many news and current affairs were not fabricated and faked by journalist?
This is the world trend and Chinese are only just to catching it up.

So can any of your Jurno stopping dig s*t and do some serious sports report in Beijing?

ALSO CHINESE-about beach and sky

August 16, 2008

04:14 PM

If you do not know the rules about beach volleyball, please shut up. The beach is according to the international standards like color, quality. If you want your players's eyes and feet hurt, you can bring them to the real beach which is near Beijing.
Air pollution really bothered Chinese government before the Olympic. They did all they can do to display a pure sky to world people. If all these endeavor should be blamed, the bird nest and water cube should be as well.

manly

August 16, 2008

04:13 PM

Congratulations to China for hosting a smooth and safe game so far! I am going to Beijing to see the real things, rather than reading articles from these reporters.

A fair and equal world

August 16, 2008

04:12 PM

Maybe faking images for the Olympics to make a good impression harmless....

Faking of issues in Tibet and the Muslim far west of "China" is not...

AES

August 16, 2008

04:12 PM

It's a sad day when the Herald runs the same "story" seen on Channel 7's Today Tonight. What a joke.

Trish Hunt

August 16, 2008

04:11 PM

Of course it is fake! Just like the fake people who write comments in this section in support of the government who in fact are paid workers in the Communist Party of China!

Why don't you fake bloggers keep your comments in China? After all your people can't even see this website because it is behind the Great Firewall of China (which you are legally not allowed to talk about in China!)!!

Linh Vo

August 16, 2008

04:11 PM

Give the Chinese a break. The only people letting us down so far are you journalists creating unnecessary controversy and picking on minor things.
The Olympics is, after all, a show and I think most people would agree that the Chinese are doing a fantastic job.

chinese australian

August 16, 2008

04:09 PM

i'm disgusted to read that some of the bloggers here accuse the chinese government agents of flooding the blog with pro-china comments. this is pure bias. yes those writers may speak chinglish and it doesn't mean they are government agents. most likely they are chinese oversea students studying in australia. they have unbriddled access to the internet and the western press, and are educated in the western culture. but they still defend their motherland ferociously. remember the large number of chinese oversea students showing up to protect the tort relay in san francisco, canberra, and kong kong this year? it's time for the west to question why their so called "righteous" values fail to enlighten the oveaseas students. if you these students are just brainwashed, then you are hopelessly arrogant and i have nothing more to say.

Sports Fan

August 16, 2008

04:06 PM

Relax everyone, Stephen Hutcheon, clearly meant this piece of his to be black humor, although it appears few found it funny. But since Ray and HG are not covering this Olympics, we will just have to contend with a bunch of wannabes.

What I found REALLY funny is that Ms Jacquelin "bottom exposed and royally spanked (in her own words)" Magnay thought this piece is serious and referenced it in her headline report. That really made me laugh.

ABC

August 16, 2008

04:04 PM

I am of Chinese heritage and I am ashamed by the lack of transparency and duplicity of the Chinese Government.
The Games have been one big propaganda tool, and the worst thing is that millions of 'patriotic' Chinese are willing to defend the Government, instead of realising that the actions of the Chinese government bring shame to the Chinese people.

Freige

August 16, 2008

04:03 PM

The role of the media is to report rather than to opine, but it has chosen to forsake that so as to lobby insults.

On the other hand, this is a blog, and Mr. Hutcheon is free to express his opinion ... and we are free to see his -- ahem -- "funny" -- opinion for what it is.

Mr. Hutcheon, don't give up your day job. Stand-up does not become you.

Cookie

August 16, 2008

04:03 PM

It's good that I still see some human comments here. Afterall, what's all the fuss about the fake fireworks & tribal kids? I fully agree with Herman's comments. This is a performance, did the IOC say it's got to be real tribals? Everyone knows it's a no fly zone, how would one expect there's a plane flying over to capture the fireworks? It's inappropriate to tie the Tibet & human rights issue with Olympics. Let's get real people, if you are so supportive about the Tibet people & so fed up with human rights in China, I tell you one solution...just stop using all Made in China goods. Ask Kevin Rudd to stop export to China. I guess if the whole world can do these 2 things at the minimum, you might get what you want. Is that realistic? Even the US dare not suggest that. Stop complaining about issues that don't belong to you. Study the history first before commenting on Tibet, I bet some of you who support Tibet independence don't even know where Tibet is. Tibet is just a US card, I can't see how Tibet can survive on it's own. Taiwan stands a far more better chance than Tibet. Mind your own business. Worry about how your own government & policians will ruin your life before you worry about the Tibet people. With the new China leadership, things had become a lot better over the past 2 decades. Nothing's going to happen overnight, in order for China to come to world recognized levels, it's still a long way. Just remember China is not a democratic country like Australia or US. Don't measure it using the same metrics.

230373

August 16, 2008

04:02 PM

I agree with elZee. China wants to be on the world stage then it has to take the good with the bad. Its embarrassing for a nation that always hides behind curtains to get busted on so many things.

They try to come across as a first world country, all refined and advanced, when the truth is that they are oppressing their own people and the rest of the world, during the Olympics is over looking their human rights violation.

I never thought China deserved to stage the Olympics...but even the Olympics are too political now, they have lost the actual purpose or essence of the true Ancient Greek Olympics. They are too commercial and too political.

FakeAboriginals

August 16, 2008

04:01 PM

IIRC, didn't the Sydney Olympic Games opening ceremony have fake Aborinals, they were in actual fact white guys.

LJ

August 16, 2008

03:59 PM

wow, the nationalists are out at play aren't they. If SOCOG asked a bunch of white kids from an acting troupe in suburbia painted them black and asked them to pose as indigenous peoples of australia...what would happen then?

All these excuses of...oh it's just symbolism etc etc, but anyone mildly versed in the entertainment exploits of the chinese politiburo know very well that fakery is and has been apart of the program for a VERY long time. Chinese poeple accept and don't question anything as long as it's perfect. For the west perfection sometimes means fakery.

The problem with the Chinese politiburo is that it fails to see how the western media works. Give them the everything first, and they'll get bored and stop digging. So you send out the info before the opening ceremony, hey we have CGI fireworks in a video because we can't film it, okay the 50 kids are just normal kids in the minority costumes which represent chinese minorities. Come clean at the beginning and you won't have to explain so much later on.

And as we can all see here, the Chinese can rarely hack criticism, because it's losing face. And Face is all so important, that's why BOCOG and the IOC have cancelled the daily press conferences. For them, too many journalists spoil the broth.

There. Hutcheon maybe you should do some research before you write these sensationalist articles. Maybe you should go and work for ACA or TT instead?

Do you have nothing else to whinge about other then heightened security, taking cars off the road, and a nice beach volleyball stadium? If the same were done by the Australia government you'd laud them as secure, green, architectural feats. Is Earth Day fake too? It must be.

What about the kids that never make it big because they're not pretty enough? Casey Donovan? What do you think goes on in the selection of contestants for TV shows?

Ah the fireworks. The media just can't let go of this can they? They fail to mention that:

1. The fireworks went off, they just couldn't be filmed in real time. You may be surprised but China doesn't want a television crew in a helicopter to fly metres away from colourful, flying explosives.

2. Some European networks explained that these were not the real shots.

3. See link up top.

Won't be reading this blog ever again.

Dick from Sydney

August 16, 2008

03:53 PM

What did you expect from Communists. They should have NEVER been awarded the games. Shame on the IOC. I decided long ago to boycott the sponsors of this fiasco. That will be the only thing the IOC understands. Boycott the sponsors!

Arthur 1

August 16, 2008

03:52 PM

I would have thought that the world would be pleased at China's progress,in the last forty years,and the Chinese are right we are nitpicking,because as Australians that is what we do best.

Keefer

August 16, 2008

03:47 PM

The schadenfreude of the Australian press towards the Chinese Olympics is staggering and disgusting. Does no one remember the homeless on Sydney's streets being relocated for the duration of the 2000 Olympics?

Also, a my flatmate worked for a large international company responsible for putting together much of the infrastructure behind the 2000 effort - every single day he came home with wads of spare tickets for whatever event happened to be on, so we visited all the sports that Aussies weren't interested in - which was most of them, except for swimming and athletics. In fact there were so many free tickets floating around we threw away handfuls of them, and felt sorry for those who had forked out to go see an event. The icing on the cake came for the closing ceremony - my flatmate arrived home with instructions to put on a white shirt, we were in the official choir to make up the gaps! I was Olympic'ed-out and opted not to go but my mate went along and filled in.

Old Brennie

August 16, 2008

03:47 PM

Thank you for removing the photo of the "Fake Chinese", the Spanish on this photo are really disgusting. To "I Know", you can forget about Channel 7, they are racist not only to Chinese, but also to some other nations. Two days ago, when the weight lifting World Champion (a Columbian, forget his name) dropped his weight twice due to a hurt finger, C7 comment "poor thing" with a smile. My 8 year's old grand daughter said, "how could she react like this ? This is so sad, not only a poor thing". I appreciate the kind heart of my grand daughter on one hand, and wonder what wrong with my country on the other hand. If this athlete is not a Columbian but an Australian, will she react the same ? Why people like to apply two standards to different races ? Where is the Olympic spirit today ?

Joey

August 16, 2008

03:45 PM

Well Maybe all the performers in the Sydney 2000 opening ceremony should have being all Indigenous Australians because after all they are the REAL Australians.

Sam

August 16, 2008

03:45 PM

Well done Herman, good writing, strongly agree with you. To the bias westerners like Stephen Hutcheon, it's just unacceptable and uncomfortable to see the China rising up as a new power of the world. He will never see how much effort the Chinese people have put on this time Olypics, and how perfect it is orgised. Shame on you Stephen Hutcheon!!!

told123

August 16, 2008

03:43 PM

The dead people should be used in the opening ceremony since most parts of ceremony are about the history of China.

Guo

August 16, 2008

03:41 PM

Finally SMH has removed the 'Fake Chinese' photo. The Spanish on this photo are racist, but to use this photo here sickening.

Tommy

August 16, 2008

03:37 PM

fake journalist, what about yourself?

why you would like to go a fake place, with fake sky, fake olympic game?

Sin

August 16, 2008

03:33 PM

They might pick out the fake fireworks. The fake singing girl. And even a fake environment. But the reality is, the world is seeing the rise of the next superpower nation, and this is the real issue bothering the nitpicking foreign journalists. All the claims about human rights abuse, the oppressive military regime, and oh who can overlook the Tibetan drama - they are, in fact, just diversions from the truth: that China is going to be the most influential domineering nation in the coming century. This is just the beginning of an era where, and increasing number of nitpicking will begin - just ask the Americans. It will soon be part of norm.

mark

August 16, 2008

03:31 PM

I think you are the fakest of the fakes. The existence of you in China is totally a fake. A fake journalist, a fake newsreporter. You are a person not to report new but to spread rumours. You are a person not to spread friendship but to seed hatred and misunderstanding between people in China and readers of Australia. Shame on you and your articles

Black Robed Mage

August 16, 2008

03:30 PM

Surprise surprise...... hello we are talking about a two very corrupt bodies here Communist China and the IOC. Both are more concerned with image than reality. Why do I say this.... Simple did any sane thinking person really expect anything different from China?? China is a communist police state pure and simple. The good and bad of this is for other forums to discuss, but to expect they would honour 'freedom, free press, internet'....

A number of my pro-Chinese friends who could have gone to the games when I said they were crazy are now agreeing with me 100%. Very glad they did NOT go.

The games are China's coming out alright, they are the best thing for all those doe eyed people thinking China is a 'nice enlightened place'.

And the IOC I can't wait until the IOC president says these are the best games. Get me a bucket, his body langue at the opening said it all.

On a different track.

Are there drugs in sport? 100% does the IOC try yes, are they 100% effective NO!. I don't mind they aren't 100% effective (wish they were) but I do tire of their holier than now attitude that it's a perfect drug free games. And yep we as spectres should accept the same. Unless there is 100% testing then nope we have to accept that people will slip through. The 'Tour De France" is a perfect example of the chemists and the officials having a running battle. My chemist is better than yours is the unwritten battle cry. (And yes I know chemists on both sides of the battle lines - enhancing/masking and detecting).

Let everyone see China & the IOC for what they really are. Image distorters.

gaoclub

August 16, 2008

03:30 PM

Imagine that the guests coming to your wedding reception continue to question the the pimple on the face of your beautiful bride. How will you feel? Kick them out of your house? I am sure that is just what you want. Come on, those annoying jourlists, this is Olypics game. Let us focus on sports and raise your damned Tibet issue to your respected boss.

So what?

August 16, 2008

03:23 PM

All pictures can be fake! So what?
Open your mind. Find the truths yourself. Journalists also can fake something.

whatajoke

August 16, 2008

03:22 PM

"Fake beach" and "fake Chinese" - what a joke!! SH - you're not embarrassing anyone but yourself. What are the Chinese supposed to do - move the beach to Beijing??

As for "fake minorities" - the costumes are merely symbolic like the "Confucius disciples" and the "palace ladies from the Tang Dynasty." Are you going to accuse China of faking those too? As an Australian, I feel totally ashamed of your report!

I'm sure you can make a living and show some basic respect to others at the same time.

jeffske

August 16, 2008

03:19 PM

this article humours me. Sounds like a serious case of sour grapes, I think because SMH cannot publish good news on Australian olympians it must publish negative news on the host nation.

I just love the media bias from SMH, must've studied at the same school as the people from FOX in the US

epic fail SMH

I'm a Chinese

August 16, 2008

03:18 PM

I don't think you are being racist against the Chinese, like some of the other posters here allege. I think it's more about the way in which the Chinese government, like other governments, finds it easier to manufacture situations or imagery than having something real that they can't control.

It wouldn't be different from say the Americans, who released a heap of fake images from the 1991 Gulf War re the air strikes.

People have to look at the approach of the media in context - I think it's natural that the media is hammering questions at the Chinese - it's an opportunity to ask as much as they can while they can and before the laws change back again.

If you are talking about racism, it's when some media here imply that all other nationalities are drug takers if the Aussies lose. Now that's what you guys should be complaining about ... (why can't I here anything now?)

darth

August 16, 2008

03:16 PM

..careful, they are tracking your isp as you post. I'm seriously sick of how egressively nationalistic Chinese are. Roll on the Olympics, let them have their great wall of deception.

media propaganda

August 16, 2008

03:14 PM

By the way stephen, did you know the people didn't actually "fly" in the Chinese opening ceremony, they were lifted up by wires. Shouldn't that be another one of your "FAKES"

Stephen, please don;t make it seem like

all the fireworks were faked as you have labeled in the pictures. The footprints were computer generated but they were only a minor part of the fireworks, all the rest were real.

And why is it unacceptable for China to use actors in the part of tribal memebers when its ok for Australia to use dancers to represent shearers??

misguided_will

August 16, 2008

03:13 PM

it's just stupid china-bashing and childish really.

the games have been spectacular in all regards!!

TT

August 16, 2008

03:08 PM

My workmate told me that his wife had her breast done---look good, feel good---he just can't wait to get home quiker after work everyday ---don't think he give a s... about they were fake ones.

CN

August 16, 2008

03:03 PM

I don't think Stephen's being racist at all - far from it! I'm Chinese so I know what I'm talking about!

Seriously, you don't understand the Chinese 'culture' or 'the way of life' in new China if you think this is China-bashing from a racist point of view. As a Chinese (though from Hong Kong), I feel ashamed about all the fake things (apart from the beach, what else can they do?) - but not surprised. Modern China is such a different place to what it used to be 50yrs ago. Nowadays everyone wants to make a quick buck so what does one do? Deceive people, give out perfect illusions and let them realise the facts later. It's the whole 'What's done is done - what are you gonna do about it?' attitude. Of course, not every Chinese is like that but 'new money' does play a huge part in this.

China has been looked down by the rest of the world for so long - now that they have the money and power they can finally 'put on a perfect show'. Just like the way overnight millionaires polishing themselves straight away with their now found money. Now the world has mixed feelings about China *sigh*

Max43

August 16, 2008

03:01 PM

Here is an old quote:

"Empty vessels makes the most noise"

In the mean time, China is piling up its gold medal tally in a quiet fashion whilst fellow Australians are whinging and whining about little things.

Hell, even South Korea is higher up the medal tally than Australia.

Keith Russell

August 16, 2008

02:59 PM

The sand at the Australian Olympics was trucked in for the beach volley ball???

Dawei

August 16, 2008

02:51 PM

What we are all forgetting is that this is not an Olympics for the world to celebrate. This is a propaganda stunt by the China Communist Party to unite China, and show to the world how "Great"the middle kingdom is. I am living here amongst it and have for the past five years. Everyday getting served up China retoric on how great the motherland is and how inferior foreigners are. You have to understand the Communist Party are fearful of any instability within China, with growing wealth gaps, spiralling inflation, rapant government corruption, especially at grass roots level, the natives are a little restless. So let them finish their little Can-Can, and understand it for what it is. I am sure the IOC has been embarrassed to the hilt over this and it will be a long time before we see the games return here. By the way if I see them award a "Best Games Ever", I will choke on my congee. It will be interesting to see what they get awarded.

elZee

August 16, 2008

02:50 PM

Oh, we're so bloody easily offended these days, like a knife to the heart! We've become so 'PC' we're now blind to the truth?

The Spaniard's didn't think their photo was offending .. they were making a point, that they were heading to an oriental nation and yes, they have different eyes from us caucasians, get over it!

None of you seem offended that the Chinese government forcibly moved scores of its citizens and demolished entire neighbourhoods and homes, of many years, from the Olympic zone? No cries of anguish here?

The media is right to question. If China wants to be a world player, in my book, hosting a flashy 'fake' Olympics is not enough to wipe away the past.

The sooner we realise, that we are all the same, racist, biased or nationalist, the sooner we can drop the bullshit that is political correctness and get on with the reality, that is LIFE, on this planet!

Kevin

August 16, 2008

02:50 PM

I wont be suprised, at the end of the Games we start complaining about how bad pollution affected atheletes performance and we only take home 5 gold.

As for the Blue Sky, taking half the cars off the road, sounds like a good idea even though its not permanent, no matter what for, people enjoy blue sky for once and the world get to see through pollution.

Didnt we stop cars going into Sydney at APEC and World Youth Day? drastic measures for drastic moments!!

Good Coverage and Good Organising!! Sports competition is always good to watch!

Thumbs Up for the press to have the GUTS
and THUMBS up for CHINA for running a good show!

Now lets concentrate on getting more gold

voltaire

August 16, 2008

02:44 PM

Whoa - this is scary.

Ok so I dont agree with everything SH says here but the obvious Chinese agents attempting to discredit and silence this blog may seem acceptable in China but in Australia people are allowed to disagree, question and even make fun of anyone - even the mighty dragon. Deal with it - or go back to hiding behind your firewall!

"I may not agree with what you say but I will defend with my life your right to say it"

Herman

August 16, 2008

02:42 PM

I do not see the reason why people are kicking up a big fuss about the 'fake firework'. Afterall, Beijing did deliver the most spectacular fireworks one will ever see in any ceremony, didn't they? It was silly and bad taste to insert it to show an aerial view of the fireworks. They've spent 100 million+ for the ceremony and I doubt the clip was there to cut cost and to purposefully deceive.

I do not see the point in condeming Beijing in not using genuine tribal girls for the costume parade either. Their intention was to illustrate the diversity of their culture and their costumes rather than getting individuals to represent their tribes.
The children were actors and performers to entertain the world and they've done exactly that. Why lay emphasis on the fact that they were not of genuine tribal decent? Did the organisers promise to use genuine tribal children in the first place? I don't think so. The children must be heart broken learning how the western media portraits their performance. The online article today "Games OPENING: FAKE FILE GROWS - UNBELIEVABLE" by Stephen Hutcheon is another example of biased journalism against the Chinese.

The switch in the girl singer was inexcusable. It was an unfortunate cultural product to have a 'perfect appearance'.

I wonder the true intention the media (including SMH) dwell on these negative events and ignore the great effort the Chinese people put into organing the ceremony.

China is just a developing country trying hard to transform itself from communism. It has made huge leap in human right issues since the 80s and I think it is irresponsible for the western journalist to bombard the chinese olympic organisers on major government policies in a sporting event.

fake australian

August 16, 2008

02:38 PM

we are fake australian here anyway............so what?

vincent

August 16, 2008

02:37 PM

I felt sick to the stomach by the time I got to the last picture. This is venomous, ugly and so, so racist. What's with us, we can't bear for someone else, (and especially someone Asian) to put on a better show? When is the media going to move on from this sort of dog whistling? And why the hell is SMH publishing this sort of crap that doesn't even reach the standards of radio talkback?

I know

August 16, 2008

02:33 PM

I donï¿½t want to comment on the ï¿½fakeï¿½ items listed above as most of the bloggers have already justified those. But one thing you forgot is that none of these is actually been ï¿½discoveredï¿½. It was readily disclosed to you by the relevant people. If something is disclosed to you without initial suspicion, then it is highly likely that it is also justifiable.
So whatï¿½s all the excitement about?

And donï¿½t start me on the ï¿½fake IDï¿½ of the gymnasts. I need evidence. This is what journalism is all about. Is it not? It is not speculation.

Did anyone watch Channel 7 News last night? They made a suggestion that Liu Zige got her Gold Medal for Womenï¿½s 200m Butterfly by doping. I consider this an insult to the entire Chinese community. Just because she is Chinese, all these sour grapes start coming in.

I agree with some of you that all this stems from insecurity because being overly-confident / arrogant, in psychological terms, are somewhat related to feelings of insecurity. My question is: What are you afraid of?

My suggestion is to open your eyes and horizon to see the world beyond. If you maintain that ï¿½frog-at-the-bottom-of-the-wellï¿½ (can only see that piece of sky above its head) mentality, itï¿½s not going to get you anywhere.

And yes, give us some quality journalism. In this instance, I think New York Times is doing a much better job. At least they show us both sides of the story.

D

August 16, 2008

02:27 PM

I'm so sick of the crap that comes out of the blinded pro-Chinese posters on these blog. Coming from a Chinese family, I get the same garbage from my parents.

You may very well downplay the importance of these fakes and PR brushovers, but here's a bloody question to you rediculous fanboys and girls.

If during the Olympics Opening Ceremony in Australia the AOC used fake Indigenous dancers who were actually just anglo saxon kids coloured and dressed to look Aboriginal, would the media and the World feel outraged? Of course.

When our governments fill the streets with soldiers and shut down massive sections of cities for non-existent threats, do Australians and the World feel outrage? Yes, it was called APEC in Sydney.

If a performer was made a paraplegic during an official Olympics event in Australia, would it become very big news and an embarressment to organisers? Damn straight it would.

Would we all be p!ssed off if stadiums during Olympics events were empty? Absolutely - It was a big story during Athens 2004. Would we all be even more angry if the organisers shipped in fake audiences? Take a bloody guess.

Wake up to the evidence. Realise that no matter what country they're in, most Journalists are paid to find the dirt and ugly secrets before bringing them to the surface - INCLUDING AUSTRALIA - and what they're doing there is no less or more than they'd do here.

Old Brennie

August 16, 2008

02:24 PM

Few years ago when I have a chat with my Chinese neighbours, I was told that local Aussie is not most racist (I agree) but the immigrants from countries like Spain and Spanish speaking countries (I was not sure at that time). They don't like Catholic either. I find the answer today when I saw the photo of "Fake Chinese". What a shame

john midcoast

August 16, 2008

02:22 PM

After just reading about He Kexin the gymnast just proves that just like the products they like to produce a lot are fakes.
I for one have hardly watch the olympics because it has lost its appeal.
It seems that further down the track we seem to find out that there are a lot of drug cheats.

dd

August 16, 2008

02:21 PM

Why cant we just show some respect for a nation that have tried their best to give us a good olympic game?
Why are we concentrating on the trivial issues about the openning ceremony?
Let's not forget, this is Olympic game, not some human right conference or political conference.
Let's just cheer for those athelets.

eenspire

August 16, 2008

02:17 PM

All this bad press about Beijing 2008 is nothing but a journalistic piece to keep readers engaged since their own Aussie athletes fail to fire up the country's interest towrds their less than stellar preformances thus far. Yeah go on, divert your countrymen's attention so that they will buy the weekend SMH. Hey, try running a piece on Aboriginal sufferings and see if your paper will sell!

dangerous dan

August 16, 2008

02:15 PM

Obviously the CCP has nothing better to do at the moment than flood blogs outside of China.

Careful your Chinglish is showing...

Will

August 16, 2008

02:01 PM

I'm very thankful that a lot of other people here who have commented have been more level-headed about all this! Miming at opening ceremonies? Please check Sydney because all our performers mimed. Just ask Nikki, Johnny, Tina, Olivia, Vanessa & others. Fake minority groups? Please! What about those Sydney opening ceremony performers who aren't actually shearers, but, um, are actually dancers? And how else does a city without a beach host beach volleyball? These articles throughout the "free" press are just so, so pathetic.

Gkwan

August 16, 2008

01:59 PM

Stephen, please remove those pics, they are insulting and humiliating. We can all see that you have spent many time in drawing those circles and arrows on the pics. We definitely know that you "have spent so many time" in finding some fake things of china (obviously you cant find many and decide to put "fake beach" and "fake Chinese" to support your writing, haha, but it turns out making your blog funny rather than persuasive)
But i am not saying something funny, pls remove those "fake" and "exaggerated" pictures!!

Catherine Tan

August 16, 2008

01:49 PM

It always amuses me that even the Chinese government is resorting to using stooge blog accounts to defend the indefensible. Previously blogs and votes on SMH were flooded with pro-China comment over Tibet, Falun Gong, and now the Olympics. Talk about propaganda.

hotcocoa

August 16, 2008

01:46 PM

Wow.. what has happened to the Australian press? You don't see the Chinese mocking foreigners about their big nose or fair hair.

Do you know that there are 1.3 billion Chinese people who are affected by these games? You have no idea how much Beijing and the other cities had to change just to get the 2008 Olympics to be accepted by the rest of the world. There are no more people selling fake DVDs, Half the cars off the streets (what do you think would happen if you can only drive to work for 2 days of each week and had to take public transportation for the rest of the weekday?), people are trying their hardest to learn to speak English. Would you learn to speak Chinese or any other language just for an event that would last 2 weeks?

How many people do you think that Rudd is crazy if there is some event in Alice Springs and he needs people to ship some sand from Bondi Beach? I think this blog shows how little respect you have for the people who wants to organize something great for humanity. We are supposed to be focused on the games and the contestants. Cheers to them.

non biased

August 16, 2008

01:23 PM

i think SH is great. He hit the right spot... there is too much negativity in the western media concerning Chinese. Sooner or later, the dragon will awaken and take over from the US. Is democracy good enough to feed the world's largest population? Not in the next 50 yrs. Even US got her own poverty issues... what is human rights? There are millions without proper healthy and insurance coverage in the US alone, please fix your own backyard before flaming others... talking about hypocrisy... sigh

Greg Ellevsen

August 16, 2008

12:56 PM

Bloke: you said "if you don't like the negative articles don't read them."

But how exactly will we know we don't like the articles, until we've read them...?

Further, I'm more broadly concerned about this issue beyond "whether I like an article".

I'm concerned about the impression this Beijing Games nitpicking creates with the Chinese. As you can see from other comments, the impression is being created that Australians are just petty, and bad sports.

So, I think Austarlians are entitled to voice their concerns about that part of the criticism being mounted in the media which is plainly unreasonable.

icarus2

August 16, 2008

12:46 PM

come on guys, i think what SH listed up here are no more than a sum up of what actually dominated the media coverages over the past week-a quite startling demo of what biased media coverage is all about...

nipticking is evident and he just wanted to HIGHLIGHT it

free_tibet

August 16, 2008

12:46 PM

I have not expected much of Beijing Olympic, because I know China is all fake.

It's absurd to belive China.

Who built Great Wall?
Local Minority built, not Chinese.

Bloke

August 16, 2008

12:42 PM

Who are all you idiots blaming the press for nitpicking, if you don't like the negative articles don't read them. The more readers that click on those articles, the more popular they are so the more negative articles will be written. WE are the ones who like reading this stuff and thus create the demand. The more manure gardeners ask for, the more they get.

I've also lived in beijing for years (and I'm in BJ now) and yes there are a lot of problems and it is nowhere near as well run as Sydney, but they've had to come a lot further than we did in Sydney. We walked up Mt Kosiosko to prepare for the Games, Beijing has had to climb everest

Standing Back

August 16, 2008

12:39 PM

Give Stephen a break, he's merely trying to feed his wife and kids, just like everyone else. Right Stephen?

Whatever happens at the Beijing Olympics or whatever is being said by individuals are so insignificant in the long term.

You can't change the world alone

Victor L

August 16, 2008

12:33 PM

What a venomous piece of blog! I don't know is this a case of blunt racism, sour grapes or vindictive nitpicking. I really enjoyed seeing the opening ceremony and amazed by the outstanding effort by the Chinese organisers. As the olympics is ultimately about the athletes, I think you should concentrate on the games, where it really matters. There is nothing fake about the incredible gold medal haul that China is continuing to get. Australia unfortunately, is doing poorly in the pools, I was hoping they will grab more golds from the Americans. Be gracious and give others a fair go! Stop this childish whinning and do better. Go Australia!

Simon

August 16, 2008

12:13 PM

Jacqueline Magnay you are a joke. I spent over 4 years in Beijing teaching English and had a fantastic time. The people were generous and genuinely interested in Australia and other cultures. How much time have you spent in China and how much time have you spent interacting with locals? The foreign media is doing a great disservice to all of us by this continual focus on the negative. Actually, its embarrassing the rubbish that is being written. China has a communist government - get over it you dimwits!

david lee

August 16, 2008

12:00 PM

Hi Stephen

try this, strip off to run on the Beijing street to show your genuineness, if there is no police or ambulance coming in, it'll prove they are faked. back to Sydney try again, you will got indigenous.

oi oi ouch!!! and ouch again

August 16, 2008

11:59 AM

uh oh...sh, You or jm or whoever there, again you guys have won anther award in bashing up the Chinese. Fake blue sky, I tell you what the picture is real, yes they clear the air so that you have less excuses in coming last in the Game. Fake children, oh no, they are from school of Art. But at least, they still have clothes on for their people. We (or the majority of successors/descendants of big opium trader empire)let the Aboriginal people without a shirt! Fake beach,You haven't said "thank you" for the Chinese to bring the best sand they have for you to spit on. Rent a crowd, Fake threat.. not again on these, did you just say "security concerns"?, then stop stir up the anti Chinese hooligans. Wait, and more, this is your cream of cream, Fake Chinese, how skillful you guys in using others to bashing Chinese again and again. Sorry mate, please stop your blue singlet, thongy attitude. Sorry mate, I don't cheer for the team this time.

Wall builder

August 16, 2008

11:59 AM

Um... I want to ask, who is actually building a fake wall of China?
Recently, the newspaper has repeatedly reported about the fake things in the opening ceremony, however, they never put an effort in reporting some more meaningful stuff, like the efforts of the performers and organisers, their hardships in training behind the scene. Many media try "very very hard" to tell their people the fake things in front of the scene but ignore the true things behind the scene in order to move the focus of the people from the successful opening ceremony to some tiny frauds which have been exaggerated. The prejudice of the foreign media is too obvious. They exaggerate every tiny frauds and try very hard to build a fake wall of China ---- prevent and blind the readers from seeing and appreciating the terrific performances in the opening ceremony.

Hence, I want to ask, who are the one building the fake wall? China itself or the foreign media?

carlos_pim

August 16, 2008

11:58 AM

O come on! The Chinese have tried extremely hard to show the world that they can host a world class Olympic games! And they can! Look at the effort they have put in the opening ceremony! And we simply sits on our fat bottoms and criticise. I think they did a fantastic job, and I was so ashamed of my countrymen's "slanty-eye" pose. Can't everyone just appreciate their effort and skill? I think it will be the best olympic games ever!!

Sean W

August 16, 2008

11:47 AM

Hey, I find at least one more fake in this Olympic - the medals. Out of all the medals USA hold, how many atheles are real American born and grow up in USA ? None of you raise this up. Why? Simply because they are not American, not Chinese. If they are Chinese, this definitly another fake we pick.

Greg Ellevsen

August 16, 2008

11:42 AM

I am not Chinese, nor do I have any Asian heritage. But I am completely embarassed by the nitpicking of the Beijing Games by the western media.

It seems the west is insecure and desperate to see/make China fail. Chinese people will interpret this nitpicking - perhaps correctly - as an expression of closet racism. Far from opening up their society to western ideals, it will make the west seem spoilt, selfish and 'the enemy'.

Sure, the Chinese Government is not a shining example of modern western ideals. But nor has it been the first to use lip synching and fake mics in a Games ceremony (Sydney closing ceremony), or pad out the stands with volunteers as spectators (also done in Sydney), etc.

By all means report the serious transgressions of the Chinese Government. But try not to be so bloody gleeful about it, and stretch it out into a meme with nitpicking nonsense like 'fake blue sky' (it was an actual blue sky) and 'fake security threat' (there are actual security threats) etc.

double standards

August 16, 2008

11:34 AM

Sour grapes. Are we becoming whining Aussies? They put on a show .. get over it. Didn't seem to see any fat, ugly Aussies at 2000. Double standards and this was a very ordinary blog. Maybe you should get some decent journo's with some decent stories. I expected more from the SMH. This was pure tabloid crap.

Foreign media

August 16, 2008

11:32 AM

Um... I want to ask, who is actually building a fake wall of China?
Recently, the Age has repeatedly reported about the fake things in the opening ceremony, however, they never put an effort in reporting some more meaningful stuff, like the efforts of the performers and organisers, their hardships in training behind the scene. Many media try "very very hard" to tell their people the fake things in front of the scene but ignore the true things behind the scene in order to move the focus of the people from the successful opening ceremony to some tiny frauds which have been exaggerated. The prejudice of the foreign media is too obvious. They exaggerate every tiny frauds and try very hard to build a fake wall of China ---- prevent and blind the readers from seeing and appreciating the terrific performances in the opening ceremony.

Hence, I want to ask, who are the one building the fake wall? China itself or the foreign media?

ohmygodheisnotpc?

August 16, 2008

11:20 AM

Explain to the readers how a photo of a group of Spaniard's pulling their eye's back is being racist. OK, they're imitating the image of another race, in a rather tasteless fashion, too. But this is no worse than what the organisers of the opening ceremony did when they got a bunch of Han children to dress up and pretend they belonged the other 50 or so ethnic minorities within China.

nw

August 16, 2008

11:09 AM

Stephen, the opening ceremony is simply a SHOW, the Chinese never claimed those minorities were actually minorities. The flying people weren't actually 'flying', like any good movies you watched, the message and olympic spirits delivered were REAL not the way it is delivered. In Barcelona Olympic ceremony, the disabled archer didn't actually hit the target but it was one of the greatest moments. I think it was a great show and some miming girl is not gonna change it. The Chinese has done a lot and sacrificed their convinience so the rest of the world can have a good time. I'd respect their efforts.
The 'fake chinese' pic is a pure insult and there is nothing funny about it, please remove it. You've made yourself a fool by showing it off.

I understand you

August 16, 2008

11:08 AM

I think what the Beijing Olympic vice-president Wang Wei said is correct. It's very easy for you to pick on every tiny tiny bit to disgrace China, to ignore their effort. See what you and the media have reported, what's meant by 'fake breach', why can't they use the sand from Hainan Island. What they are doing is just for the best of the competitors and now you are accusing them? i understand that you personally don't like China, you don't want Beijing Olympic to be a successful one, because it makes you feel uncomfortable. You are so eager to grab everything just to ease your uncomfort. You are jealous, the weatern media are jealous at what the Chinese have achieved. I am not just guessing it, I know it from a Italian correspondence, he said you guys just love to see china being humiliated.

I understand

August 16, 2008

11:03 AM

I think what the Beijing Olympic vice-president Wang Wei said is correct. It's very easy for you to pick on every tiny tiny bit to disgrace China, to ignore their effort. See what you and the media have reported, what's meant by 'fake breach', why can't they use the sand from Hainan Island. What they are doing is just for the best of the competitors and now you are accusing them? i understand that you personally don't like China, you don't want Beijing Olympic to be a successful one, because it makes you feel uncomfortable. You are so eager to grab everything just to ease your uncomfort. You are jealous, the weatern media are jealous at what the Chinese have achieved. I am not just guessing it, I know it from a Italian correspondence, he said you guys just love to see china being humiliated.

maskoff

August 16, 2008

10:58 AM

Do you why all the "secret" about fakes are coming out? Because the people behind them known for sure if they don't leak it out now, they'll "peacefully disappear" forever soon.

Jack

August 16, 2008

10:39 AM

Are we the only true blues and that other people especially the Chinese people are all fake. Common on Aussies, let us be fair and not targeting and demonsing China for the sake of it. I have heard too much of the anti China's rhetorics recently to learn that many of the reportings are fake and biased when I read it from another Asian papers!

blacklamb

August 16, 2008

10:32 AM

Crying foul over 'fake children'? The Opening Ceremony is a performance, not a sport. It is symboloic. Not sure how to break this, but none of the people were actually flying either.

TAKE THAT PHOTO OFF

August 16, 2008

10:10 AM

I dont think its exactly right to have a photo of the disgusting and racist Spaniards with the heading "FAKE CHINESE", thats a little bit insulting and insensitive, especially because thats just the Western person's (or should I say SPANIARD'S) perspective of what an Asian person looks like.
It's real bad form guys! Dont perpetuate the racist ideals of a bunch of losers!

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Stephen Hutcheon, a former China correspondent for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, now works as an online editor and reporter. Beijing was the scene of his last competitive 100m race, where as a 39-year-old class prefect at the Beijing Foreign Languages Institute, he lost face by finishing a distant last.